Holding Centres (Hansard, 15 July 1997)

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the 4th Annual Report of the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres; and if she will make a statement. [7411]

§ Mr. Ingram
A consultation exercise on the recommendations made in the 4th Annual Report of the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres is at present being conducted. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will consider making a statement when the consultation exercise has been completed.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish the code of practice for video-recording interviews with suspects detained in the holding centres. [7412]

§ Mr. Ingram
The code of practice for the silent video-recording of interviews with suspects detained in the Holding Centres is at an advanced stage of preparation. It will be published as soon as possible.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will review guidelines for the holding centres to enable detainees to be provided with writing materials. [7413]

§ Mr. Ingram
The provision of writing materials for detainees is being considered as part of the consultation exercise.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the police have a right of veto over the decision of the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres or his Deputy to attend a detainee interview. [7414]

§ Mr. Ingram
The question as to whether or not the Independent Commissioner or his Deputy attends a detainee interview is in the first place a matter for the detained person. Additionally though, in exceptional circumstances, the police have a right of veto over the Commissioner's decision to attend. This is reflected in the Commissioners' Terms of Reference.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place a copy of the RUC document, "Notice to Detained Persons," in the Library. [7415]
147W

§ Mr. Ingram
The Codes of Practice for the Detention, Treatment, Questioning and Identification of detained persons set out very clearly and in some detail the requirements in terms of informing detained persons of their rights while in custody.
A copy of the Codes of Practice is available in the Library.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list(a) the functions carried out in each of the three holding centres and (b) the allocation of space accorded to each. [7416]

§ Mr. Ingram
The function of each of the Holding Centres is to provide for the detention and interview of persons detained under Section 14 of the Prevention of Terrorism (TP) Act 1989, in accordance with the Codes of Practice issued under Section 61 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991.
The allocation of space accorded to each function varies between Holding Centres and indeed variation exists within each Holding Centre.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is(a) the estimated cost of building works proposed by the Police Authority to replace Castlereagh Holding Centre and (b) the estimated duration of such works from commencement to completion. [7417]

§ Mr. Ingram
It has been estimated in the absence of a statement of feasibility and cost range, that a replacement build for Castlereagh Holding Centre would currently:

(a) cost in the region of £6 million; and

(b) would take a period of approximately 18 months to complete.