Blakenhurst Prison (Hansard, 28 October 1993)

§ Ms Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give details of all complaints made by persons at Blakenhurst prison during the disturbances at that prison on 9 October;
(2) what reports he has received concerning assaults on prisoners by prison officers in the segregation unit of Blakenhurst prison.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
716W
Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 28 October 1993: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about assaults on prisoners by prison officers in the segregation unit, and about complaints of assaults made by persons during the disturbances on 9 October, at Blakenhurst prison. Six prisoners at HMP Blakenhurst have made complaints of assault allegedly committed by prisoner custody officers on 9 October. These are being investigated by the Controller as required by Section 85(4)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

§ Ms Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal action is pending by prisoners at Blakenhurst prison against prison officers.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 28 October 1993: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about what legal action is pending by prisoners at Blakenhurst prison agaisnt prison officers. I am not aware of any such action.

§ Ms Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ask Her Majesty's chief inspectors of prisons to visit Blakenhurst prison and to report on the running of the prison.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Unless otherwise directed by the Secretary of State, it is for Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons to decide when he wishes to visit and report to the Secretary of State on the running of any prison.
Each prison should be inspected about every five years.