§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to make the prison regime in England and Wales more closely comparable with that in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MayhewThere are no present plans to align the prison regime in England and Wales with that in Northern Ireland. Present differences reflect, among other things, the smaller scale of the prison system in Northern Ireland, the higher proportion of long-term prisoners and the absence of a parole scheme. The system of privileges in prisons in England and Wales is, however, kept under review.