HC Deb 17 March 1983 vol 39 cc215-6W
Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of (a) men and (b)women held in solitary confinement in prisons in England and Wales on 1 March.

Mr. Mellor

We do not accept that any prisoner in England and Wales is kept in solitary confinement.

Under prison rule 43 governors may remove prisoners from association with other prisoners in the interests of maintaining the good order and discipline of the establishment. On 31 December 1982, the latest date for which figures are available, 94 men in prisons in England and Wales were segregated under rule 43 in the interests of good order and discipline. On 1 March 1983 two women were so segregated in female establishments in England and Wales. These figures do not include prisoners removed from association at their own request.

In addition, prisoners who are to be charged with an offence against prison rules may be kept apart from other prisoners pending the disciplinary hearing, under prison rule 48(2); and prisoners who have been awarded cellular confinement as a punishment at a disciplinary hearing will be kept apart from other prisoners. No figures are kept of the numbers of prisoners on rule 48(2) or in cellular confinement at any particular time, but the number of adjudication awards of cellular confinement made in 1981 in male prisons and remand centres was 4,122, and in female prisons and remand centres it was 262.

Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period of time a person at present in solitary confinement in a prison in England and Wales has been kept under these conditions.

Mr. Mellor

We do not accept that any prisoner in England and Wales is kept in solitary confinement.

On 10 March 1983 one prisoner had been removed from association under prison rule 43 in the interests of good order and discipline for 1,685 days.

It is not known what is the longest time that a prisoner kept apart from other prisoners either under prison rule 48(2) or in cellular confinement as a punishment has been so held, but it is likely to be very considerably shorter than those under prison rule 43.