HC Deb 16 February 1973 vol 850 c447W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of personal searches which have been carried out on people visiting men interned at the Maze prison, Long Kesh; on how many occasions visitors have been found to be carrying prohibited articles to pass on to the detained men; whether the persons carrying these articles were men or women; what was the nature of their relationship with the internees; and what were the articles discovered.

Mr. David Howell

Records have not been kept of the number of visitors to the Maze prison who have been searched, nor of the number of times on which prohibited articles have been taken from visitors. Most of these articles have been returned at the end of the visit; but some, including hacksaw blades, plans of the prison, maps and drugs, have been confiscated. Relatives and friends of inmates, both men and women, have been found to carry prohibited articles.