§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the United Kingdom has formally agreed to comply with rule No. 33 in the United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners concerning instruments of restraint.
§ Mr. HurdHer Majesty's Government have adopted the standard minimum rules as a guide to good principle and practice. In particular, rule No. 33 is applied in the United Kingdom with the exceptions that(a) a prisoner who is thought to present a threat to security may be required to wear handcuffs during an appearance before a court or administrative body, with the permission of that court or administrative body, and (b) in Northern Ireland I understand that a governor's report on use of restraints is made not to the higher administrative body but to the independent board of visitors.