§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what circumstances social security benefit will be payable to the wives of IRA and other prisoners released from prison in Northern Ireland over Christmas to enable them to meet the extra expenses involved in having an extra person in the household.
§ Mr. MasonThe only circumstances in which provision is made for the requirements of a prisoner on parole is where the relatives with whom he will be staying are already receiving supplementary benefit. These arrangements apply to all prisoners on Christmas home leave.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department makes any distinction between IRA prisoners and any other criminals released over Christmas in calculating the extra amount of social security benefit which their wives may draw in respect of the extra cost of having an extra person in the household.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many IRA prisoners are eligible for release over Christmas, if they are favourably recommended by the prison governor, because they fulfil the other conditions set out in his answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South on 28th November 1977.
§ Mr. MasonThis year 35 special category prisoners, 29 claiming affiliations with the Provisional IRA and six with the Official IRA, are eligible to be considered for Christmas home leave. In the past, however, very few Provisional IRA prisoners have accepted. Figures showing the political affiliations of those convicted of crimes committed after 1st March 1976 are not available.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will issue instructions that in no circumstances should extra social security benefits be issued to the wives of IRA prisoners who may be released from prison over Christmas in order to cover the extra 783W costs of having an extra person in the household.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that in no circumstances are convicted IRA terrorists released for special home leave over Christmas, despite the fact that present regulations allow them to be so released.
§ Mr. MasonThe criteria set out in my hon. Friend the Minister of State's answer to the hon. Member's Question of 28th November apply equally to all convicted prisoners.—[Vol. 940, c.99.]