§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for 1980, 1985 and for the latest date for which he has figures and by location(a) the number of children and babies who are in prison with their mother because of an offence she has committed and (b) the length of time the children are kept in prison.
§ Mr. MellorOn 10 January 1990, there were 38 babies in the three prison mother and baby units; 12 were at Her Majesty's prison, Holloway, 10 at Her Majesty's prison and young offender institution, Styal, and 16 at Her Majesty's prison, Askham Grange. Equivalent information for 1980 and 1985 is not available.
Rule 9(3) of the Prison Rules 1964 (SI 1964 No. 388) provides that the Secretary of State may, subject to any conditions he thinks fit, permit a woman to have her baby with her in prison. Only a mother can request the admission of her baby but approval depends on a place in the units being available and admission being considered as in the best interests of the child.
The length of time a baby remains in a prison mother and baby unit can reflect a number of factors, including the wishes of the mother and the length of her sentence. But babies are not normally permitted to remain with their mother in prison beyond the age of 18 months because research has shown that after that age there is likely to be an adverse effect on the development of the child.