§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she received a report on the outcome of consultations between the Police Authority and the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres on the role of lay visitors' access to suspects detained under emergency legislation; and if she will make a statement. [62263]
§ Mr. IngramThe Secretary of State has received no such report. The Government did however consult on the Independent Commissioner's recommendation that Lay Visitors should have their sphere of operation extended to include the Holding Centres. It concluded that no change should be made to the remit of the Lay Visitors, not least because an extension of their role of the nature proposed might leave them open to duress and intimidation.
The Government look forward to the day when the Holding Centres are no longer needed. Meanwhile the Government do not envisage any merging of the roles of the Independent Commissioner and the Lay Visitors.