§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if prisoner Abdul Qayyum Raja, C43848, Her Majesty's prison, Long Lartin, has been given full access to all reports which presently determine his status as a category A prisoner; [35286]
(2) for what reasons the status of prisoner Abdul Qayyum Raja, C43848, Her Majesty's prison, Long Lartin remains category A; and when he expects this status will change. [35285]
§ Mrs. WiddecombeResponsibility for these matters 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 Derek Lewis to Mr. Roger Godsiff, dated 19 July 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Mr. Abdul Qayyum Raja, a category A prisoner at Long Lartin prison.It is not the policy of the Prison Service to provide prisoners or their representatives with copies of reports prepared for the purposes of security category reviews. In accordance with the High Court judgement, in December 1993, in the case of Regina v. the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex-parte Duggan, a prisoner is, subject to any necessary exceptions arising out of public interest immunity, informed of the gist of any matter of fact and/or opinion relevant to the determination of his security category; and given reasons for any decision which results in him remaining as a category A prisoner.Mr. Raja's security category was reviewed by the category A Committee on 21 June. The Committee's recommendations will shortly be submitted to the Prison Service Director of Security for consideration. Mr. Raja will be informed of the outcome as soon as practicable. His security category was previously reviewed in October last year when it was decided that he should remain as a category A prisoner. Mr. Raja was provided with the reasons for that decision.