§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the(a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average time during which inmates at HMP New Hall, Wakefield, have been detained in a body belt or mechanical restraint, since January 1990; [8444]
(2) how often the Home Office official at HMP New Hall, Wakefield, responsible for the punishment of inmates has authorised the use of (a) body belts, (b) ankle straps, (c) handcuffs and (d) special segregation unit cells for each year since January 1990; [8422]
(3) on how many occasions since January 1990 inmates in HMP New Hall, Wakefield, have been kept in body belts for more than 12 hours; [8438]
(4) on how many occasions since January 1990 inmates at HMP New Hall, Wakefield, have been (a) detained in a strip cell and (b) restrained by body belts for (i) medical or (ii) non-medical purposes. [8441]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 24 January 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about the use of restraints, the segregation unit and the strip cell at New Hall prison since January 1990.260WSince January 1990, inmates have been detained in a strip cell for medical reasons on 136 occasions. New Hall prison did not have a segregation unit until 1992. Since then, inmates have been detained on 46 occasions in the unit for non-medical reasons.On no occasion since January 1990 has any inmate at New Hall prison been restrained by bodybelts or other mechanical restraint.No official responsible for the punishment of inmates at New Hall prison has, since January 1990, authorised the use of bodybelts. ankle straps or handcuffs. Use of the special segregation unit cells has been authorised on the following occasions. 1992—twice: 1993—once; 1994—once; 1995—once.
§ Ms JowellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the policy of handcuffing pregnant prisoners receiving hospital treatment around childbirth. [7540]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 15 January 1996]Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 24 January 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the handcuffing of pregnant prisoners.The Home Secretary announced on 18 January revised arrangements on the use of restraints on prisoners attending hospital. The Prison Service implemented the revised policy on 19 January. Amendments to the Prison Service security manual reflecting the revised policy will be issued as soon as possible and placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what stage labour is deemed to have begun in the context of paragraph 60.18 of the current edition of the Prison Service security manual. [9492]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 15 January [996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to he given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 24 January 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking at what stage labour is deemed to have begun in the context of paragraph 60.18 of the current edition of the Prison Service Security Manual.All decisions about the onset of labour arc made by nursing and medical staff attending the mother at the time.
§ Mr. HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures govern requests by(a) a doctor and (b) a midwife for the removal of handcuffs from a prisoner giving birth; and what discretion prison officers have on whether to comply with such a request. [9491]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 12 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to he given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 24 January 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what procedures govern requests by (a) a doctor and (b) a midwife for the removal of handcuffs from a prisoner giving birth; and what discretion prison officers have on whether to comply with such a request.261WThe Home Secretary announced on 18 January revised arrangements on the use of restraints on prisoners attending hospital, which were implemented by the Prison Service on 19 January. Amendments to the Prison Service security manual reflecting the revised policy will be issued as soon as possible and placed in the Library of the House.From now on, no female prisoner admitted to hospital to give birth will have physical restraints applied from the time she arrives at the hospital until she leaves.