§ Miss Maynardasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many petitions for transfer from English prisons to Northern Ireland have been refused during the period 1972 to 1975; and why it has been possible to transfer more prisoners from Northern Ireland to England than from England to Northern Ireland in view of the increase in prison accommodation made available in Northern Ireland following the ending of internment.
§ Mr. Concannon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th July 1976],gave the following information:
Of the petitions referred to me by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department during the period specified, 60—from 39 prisoners—have been refused. The decision to accept a prisoner on transfer from England depends on several factors, including the individual circumstances of the prisoner, security considerations and the availability of accommodation. The availability of temporary compound accommodation following the ending of detention has not alleviated the continuing shortage of cellular accommodation.