§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the prisoners segregated under Rule 43 on 1st February 1975 were segregated at their own request and how many for the maintenance of good order and discipline;
(2) if any unsentenced prisoners are entirely segregated from contact with other prisoners in British gaols:
(3) how many of those prisoners segregated under Rule 43 on 1st February 1975 had been segregated for more than one month, one to three months, three to six months, six to nine months, nine months to one year, and over one year, respectively;
(4) of those prisoners segregated under Rule 43 on 1st February 1975, what was the longest time any sentenced person had been wholly segregated; and if this was at his own request or for good order and discipline.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn England and Wales 479 prisoners were segregated under the rule at their own request and 73 for the maintenance of good order and discipline. In addition, 156 prisoners were in units at Reading and Gloucester 395W prisons which provide full association at work, exercise and leisure for prisoners previously placed under the rule at their own request at other establishments.
Of the 552 prisoners not in these units 380 had been segregated under the rule for one month or over, of whom 172 had been so segregated for at least one month but less than three months, 117 for at least three months but less than six months; 45 for at least six months but less than nine months; 18 for at least nine months but less than one year; and 28 for one year or more.
Two unsentenced prisoners were withdrawn from all association with other prisoners. The longest period for which a sentenced prisoner had been so withdrawn under the rule was four months ten days, at his own request.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rights sentenced prisoners have, and what method of appeal is available, against alleged infringements of these rights.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe statutory rights of sentenced prisoners are set out in the Prison Act 1952 and the Prison Rules 1964. The avenues for representation against alleged infringements of these or on any other matters of prison treatment include application to the boards of visitors, petition to the Home Secretary, or petition to the European Commission on Human Rights, correspondence with Members of Parliament and, through them, access to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the complete segregation of a prisoner is considered to be an appropriate punishment for unruly behaviour; and if he has considered the psychological effects on the prisoner.
§ Dr. Summerskill:No award of cellular confinement for an offence against prison discipline may be made unless the medical officer certifies that the prisoner is fit so to be dealt with. A prisoner undergoing cellular confinement must be visited daily by the governor and medical officer and is in contact with other staff during each day. No prisoner is kept in complete isolation.
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