§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the protest by women prisoners at Armagh gaol.
§ Mr. Humphrey Atkins28 sentenced women prisoners at Armagh began a "dirty" protest in February this year, in support of their campaign for political status. The women protesters, unlike the men, are taking exercise and have not destroyed their cell furniture. The protesters are housed in a separate wing of the prison and the rest of the establishment continues to function normally. The dirty cells are being cleaned regularly.
Medical supervision of the protesters continues, as far as they themselves will allow; there have been no cases of illness attributable to the conditions which the prisoners concerned have created for themselves.
All women prisoners in Northern Ireland, including the protesters, are allowed to wear their own clothes. Normal lavatory and washing facilities are available to the protesting women if they choose to use them.