§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer on 19 March,Official Report, column 154, on smuggling at Buckley Hall prison, what is the estimated total amount of items that have been smuggled over the prison fence since the prison was opened; what is the estimated proportion of total smuggling caused by items being thrown over the prison fence; and what is the basis for the estimate that additional fencing will reduce the potential for this method of smuggling by 80 per cent. [28955]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility 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 Liz Lynne, dated 15 May 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question, pursuant to the Director General's reply of 19 March, Official Report, column 154, about smuggling at Buckley Hall prison.
The estimated number of unauthorised items that have been smuggled over the fence since the prison opened is very small, but the smuggling of most articles at Buckley Hall prison takes place in this way.
Additional fencing has restricted the area adjacent to the perimeter fence which can be accessed by prisoners by 80 per cent.