HL Deb 02 December 1986 vol 482 cc810-1WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prisoners in England and Wales and Scotland, with families in the Republic of Ireland, have so far applied for repatriation (or indicated in writing their wish to be considered for repatriation).

The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)

No central record is kept of the whereabouts of prisoners' families. Since 1st August 1986, when the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons came into effect for the United Kingdom, three petitions have been received from prisoners, all in England and Wales, expressing an interest in repatriation to the Republic of Ireland. Each was informed that he was ineligible for consideration as the Republic had not ratified the convention.