§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently held in special secure units in England and Wales; and how long they have been held in such units. [13413]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 30 January 1997]: 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.
554WLetter from Phil Wheatley to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 4 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners held in special secure units and how long they have been held in such units.There are currently 29 prisoners being held in special secure units. The details requested are set out in the following tables:
Number of prisoners Length of current detention in SSUs Belmarsh (remand) 1 prisoner 10 months (March 1996) 7 prisoners 6 months (July 1996) 4 prisoners 4 months (September 1996) 1 prisoner 14 months (November 1995) Belmarsh (convicted) 1 prisoner 10 years 7 months (June 1986) 1 prisoner 9 years 7 months (June 1987) 1 prisoner 9 years 3 months (October 1987) 1 prisoner 6 years 1 month (December 1990) 1 prisoner 4 years 9 months (April 1992) 1 prisoner 4 years 7 months (June 1992) Full Sutton 1 prisoner 1 year 4 months (September 1995) 1 prisoner 1 year (January 1996) 1 prisoner 6 months (July 1996) Whitemoor 1 prisoner 3 years 4 months (August 1993) 1 prisoner 8 years 5 months (July 1988) 1 prisoner 1 year 4 months (September 1995) 2 prisoners 1 year 1 month (December 1995) 1 prisoner 10 months (March 1996) 1 prisoner 5 months (August 1996)