§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the 1996 board of visitors report from HMP Buckley Hall, if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make it his policy that all reports from boards of visitors are put in the public domain. [21470]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe 1996 annual report of the board of visitors at Her Majesty's prison Buckley Hall was received on 16 December 1996 and I responded on behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend on 28 February 853W 1997. The board's reports are not public documents and are not placed in the Library as a matter of course. They are made to the Secretary of State who permits the board to publish if it so wishes and boards are encouraged to do so.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many assaults there have been on(a) prisoners and (b) staff at HMP Buckley Hall since 29 October 1996; [21472]
(2) if he will list the incidents reported to the Prison Service in relation to HMP Buckley Hall since 29 October 1996. [21471]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility 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 Richard Tilt to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 20 March 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about incidents at Buckley Hall prison.The number of incidents reported to the Prison Service since 29th October 1996 to 19 March 1997 are as follows:
Number Assault 3 Concerted Indiscipline 1 Drugs 17 Fire 1 Recapture/Surrender 2 Tool Loss 4 Temporary Release Failure 1 Total 29 The breakdown of assaults from this date is 2 on inmates and 1 on a member of staff.