§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, further to his reply of 11 April, Official Report, c. 345, he will explain the circumstances which led to five inmates of Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, being subjected to a total of 55 strip searches in March.
§ Mr. Prior[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1983, c. 247]: During the period in question, two prisoners serving sentences of detention during the Secretary of State's pleasure who had been given provisional release dates were taking part in a pre-release working out scheme. These prisoners were each strip-searched on a total of 21 occasions.
The other three prisoners were unconvicted inmates who were making frequent appearances at their trial at the Belfast Crown court.