§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the changes in the procedures for placing prisoners under segregation and for reviewing them subsequently as indicated in paragraph 57 of the report of the work of the Prison Department 1973.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe following changes were made in procedures under Rule 43 of the Prison Rules:
(1) The authority to segregate a prisoner for up to 24 hours should normally be given by the governor or his deputy and not by any other person in the prison.
(2) The governor should seek written confirmation within 24 hours of any oral authority given by a member of the board of visitors to continue segregation beyond the initial 24 hours.
(3) The form on which such confirmation is sought should state fully the reasons for segregation and be copied to the Prison Department regional office concerned.
24W(4) Application to the board for renewal of authority for a further period of segregation, not exceeding 28 days, should be accompanied by the prisoner's record; and the decision then taken should be recorded and countersigned by a member of the board.
(5) The return made each month by governors to Prison Department regional offices of prisoners segregated under the rule should contain such information and recommendations as would assist the Regional Director to consider whether measures not open to the governor, such as transfer to another prison or a special unit for Rule 43 prisoners, would be beneficial in any case.