§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for how long Mr. Barry Horne has been detained on remand at Bullingdon prison; [12613]
(2) what counselling is being made available to Mr. Barry Horne, currently in Bullingdon prison; [12614]
(3) what information he has obtained about the objectives of Mr. Barry Horne's hunger strike at Bullingdon prison; and if he will make a statement; [12615]
(4) if he will make a statement on the hunger strike currently being undertaken by Mr. Barry Horne at Bullingdon prison. [12616]
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§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answers 24 January 1997]: Responsibility 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Tony Banks, dated 29 January 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about Mr. Barry Horne who is being held, on remand, at Bullingdon prison and is at present on hunger strike.
Mr. Horne, was first remanded into custody on 27 July 1996. He was transferred to Bullingdon from Bristol on 23 December. He was returned to Bristol Prison on 28 January.
He began to refuse food on 6 January, claiming this was in protest against the policy of the Government in respect of vivisection. Mr. Horne has stated his action is not connected with his treatment at Bullingdon and that he has no complaints against the prison.
Mr. Horne remains on normal residential location but visits the prison health care centre on a regular basis, where he is examined and counselled by medical staff and a doctor on the dangers of continuing his refusal of food. His medical condition, which at present is not considered to be life threatening, is closely monitored.
Although Mr. Horne refuses to take food, he does take fluids. There is no evidence of him becoming dehydrated and he remains physically mobile.