§ Mr. Ensorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he has received the Report of the Advisory Council on the Penal System about the treatment of long-term prisoners in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe Advisory Council have submitted a report to me on the régime for long-term prisoners detained in conditions of maximum security; and this report is being published today. It deals with the disposition of these prisoners within the prison system, the78W special security measures needed and the régime for such prisoners.
Before finally deciding the important issues raised by this report, I shall obtain the views of the prison service and of the staff associations, with whom I have initiated urgent consultations.
I would take this opportunity of thanking the Advisory Council, and in particular the members of the relevant subcommittee, for having prepared this comprehensive report, and for their careful study and analysis of these difficult problems.