§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests he has had from prisoners, serving sentences in prisons in England and Wales, for transfer to Northern Ireland; and if he will give details.
§ Mr. CarlisleI regret that this information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost but I can say that my right hon. Friend has no such requests under consideration at present. As regards recent requests and numbers actually transferred in recent years, details were given in answer to Questions by the hon. Membtr for Mid-Ulster (Mrs. McAliskey) on 5th December last and to the hon. Member on 11th December last.—[Vol. 865, c. 432–3, and Vol. 866, c. 113–4.]
§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how 71W many prisoners in prison in the United Kingdom, male and female, are currently being force-fed; and for how long this process has been used on these prisoners.
§ Mr. CarlisleOn 23rd January 1974, four men and two women in prisons in England and Wales were being artificially fed. The men had been so fed over a period of 800, 62, 52 and 3 days and the women over a period of 52 and 50 days.
§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of men and women, respectively, at present on hunger strike in prisons in the United Kingdom, and the time for which they have been on hunger strike; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleOn 23rd January 1974, five men and two women in prisons in England and Wales were refusing meals. Two of the men and both women had been doing so for 70 days, and the other three men for 819 days, seven days and six days respectively. In accordance with prison regulations, these prisoners are kept under special surveillance by the medical officer.