§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why prisoner No. C05930 is being kept in Winson Green Prison, Birmingham, in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day when he has not been found guilty of any crime; and when the hon. Member for Newham, North-West may expect a reply to his letter in connection with this case;
(2) when prisoner No. C05930, now in Winson Green Prison, Birmingham, was first arrested; when he was charged; when found guilty, and of what offence; when he was admitted to prison; how long he has been kept in solitary confinement and for what reasons; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe prisoner concerned is number C05934. He was first arrested on 2nd March and charged on 4th March with armed robberies in the London area. He was remanded to Brixton prison until 7th April, when he was released on bail. He was arrested again on 16th May and charged on 18th May with the armed robbery of a factory in the West Midlands. He was remanded on422W 19th May to Birmingham prison where, for security reasons, he occupies a single cell. I regret that all remand prisoners at Birmingham have to spend about 23 hours a day in their cells.
I have now written to my hon. Friend about this case.