§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there is a young offenders' centre within the compound of Her Majesty's prison, Armagh; and whether the procedures for administering it differ from those for the rest of the prison.
§ Mr. John PattenA floor of one of the three wings of Armagh prison is used exclusively as the young offenders centre. The centre is not administered under prison rules, but in accordance with the Young Offenders Centre Rules (Northern Ireland) 1982.
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§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of Stale for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied that the statutory and other requirements relevant to the treatment of young offenders are fulfilled in her Majesty's prison, Armagh.
§ Mr. John PattenYes.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what furniture and fittings are supplied in cells used for young offenders in solitary confinement in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh.
§ Mr. John PattenUnder rule 26 of the Young Offenders Centre Rules (Northern Ireland) 1982 a young offender may be removed from association in the interests of good order or discipline or in his or her own interests; and under rules 33 and 34 an inmate may be ordered to be confined to his or her room as a punishment following adjudication for a breach of the rules.
Where an inmate is ordered to be confined to his or her room as a punishment, the normal furniture is a table, a chair and a bed from which the mattress is removed from morning until late afternoon. Where, however, an inmate has persistently damaged furniture and fittings, it may be necessary to remove other items.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the effect of loss of privileges at Her Majesty's prison, Armagh.
§ Mr. John PattenAn inmate can be awarded either loss of particular privileges or of all privileges for a specified period. In the latter case, the privileges lost will include privilege — but not statutory — visits, evening association and weekly film shows.