§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Irish(a) men and (b) women serving prison sentences in the United Kingdom for terrorist activities have been transferred to prisons in Northern Ireland or Eire in each of the last five years.
§ Mrs. RumboldIt is not possible to transfer prisoners from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland because the latter has not ratified the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons.
Information on the number of prisoners transferred from England and Wales to Northern Ireland is given in the table. Statistics are not collated on the basis of the prisoner's nationality, sex or offence. The transfer of prisoners from Scotland to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
434W
1. Permanent transfers of prisoners from England and Wales to Northern Ireland Number Transferred 1985 3 1986 2 1987 3 1988 6 1989 15 1990 3 11991 4 Total 36 1 to 31 October.
2. Temporary transfers of prisoners from England and Wales to Northern Ireland Number Transferred 1985 1 1986 1 1987 2 1988 7 1989 2 1990 12 11991 8 Total 33 1 to 31 October.