§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost of food per prisoner per week in the Maze Prison.
§ Mr. Peter Mills£2.20.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost of food per dog per week for security dogs in the Maze Prison.
§ Mr. Peter Mills£1.89.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in total are held in custody in the Maze Prison.
§ Mr. Peter MillsOn 19th February the number was 825.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the floor space of each hut in the Maze Prison.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe floor spaces are as follows:
Sq. ft. Large dormitory huts … … 1,872 Small dormitory huts … … 1,584 Dining/recreation huts … 1,584
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many huts there are in each cage in the Maze Prison.
§ Mr. Peter MillsIn each compound there are four huts for sleeping, meals and recreation, an ablutions block and a hut for quiet study.
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§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the ground area of each cage, excluding that area taken up by the huts in the Maze Prison.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe area in the larger compounds is 27,600 sq. ft.; in the smaller ones 22,700 sq. ft.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average number of prisoners per compound in the Maze Prison.
§ Mr. Peter Mills78.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost to date of the provision of educational facilities in the Maze Prison; and what is the breakdown of the expenditure.
§ Mr. Peter MillsPrecise figures are not readily obtainable. The approximate costs of the major items are:
£ Accommodation for educational purposes 14,000 Proportion of educational officer's salary 1,230 Equipment, text books, stationery 300
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the saving in expenditure on clothing and footwear at the Maze Prison, since all prisoners wear their own clothes.
§ Mr. Peter MillsDetainees and special category prisoners may wear their own clothes. The estimated saving in expenditure if they do is approximately £15 for each inmate. Young prisoners and short-term prisoners in the Maze Prison wear prison clothing.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice was sought before using the area known as Maze as a place of detention.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThis location for the prison was chosen after consultations with the security forces.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is aware that present drainage facilities are inadequate at the Maze Prison, and that neither the Lisburn nor Hillsborough systems can take the waste at present; and what action he proposes.
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§ Mr. Peter MillsThe water table at the Maze is close to the surface and puddles tend to collect in parts of the prison exercise areas. While the prison is in use it is not practical to carry out the major drainage works needed to deal with the problem effectively. The sewerage facilities are being extended.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is aware that the huts used to accommodate prisoners at the Maze Prison are not weatherproof, allowing water to seep into the interior, and that the governor of the prison does not expect any improvement in conditions until June 1973 at the earliest and what action he proposes.
§ Mr. Peter MillsSome of the huts leak in severe weather. Repairs have already begun, and every effort will be made to complete them without delay.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is aware that there is insufficient power at the Maze Prison to maintain heating and lighting needs, that some administrative staff have to work by gaslight, and that the prison authorities do not envisage any improvement until after the building of a new extension in June, when a generator will be provided; and what action he proposes.
§ Mr. Peter MillsAll essential heating and lighting needs within the prison are met from existing power supplies. Buildings in the visitors' car park, outside the prison perimeter, are heated and lit by bottled gas. This is the only area in which administrative staff have to work by gaslight. This lighting complies with approved standards. Arrangements have been made to augment the power supply at the prison.
§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider the provision of extra visiting accommodation at the Maze Prison to facilitate visitors who often queue for three hours.
§ Mr. Peter MillsDelays are caused when visitors arrive at times other than those arranged for them. If visitors kept their appointments the accommodation for visits would be adequate and delays would be greatly reduced.
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§ Miss Devlinasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why it is necessary to have more than one warden looking through the door during a visit at the Maze Prison.
§ Mr. Peter MillsPrison staff supervise prisoners and visitors as necessary to maintain security.