§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which buildings have been or are to be demolished in Magilligan prison between 1 January 1983 and 1 January 1985; and whether any replacements are planned.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1984, c. 354]: No buildings at Magilligan prison have been demolished since 1 January 1983, but some vacant temporary buildings which are surplus to requirements will be demolished in the near future.
Other temporary buildings which are nearing the end of their useful life are currently being surveyed to ascertain whether their retention and continued maintenance is preferable to demolition and complete replacement.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the dates on which explosions have taken place in Magilligan prison and the dates on which any explosives, firearms or ammunition were found in that prison since 1 January 1983.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1984, c. 354]: During this period, explosions occurred on two dates. On 23 September 1983, in separate incidents, a total of five rounds of ammunition exploded in three of the dining rooms in the H blocks at Magilligan prison. The ammunition had been placed on hot-plates in the room. On 1 February 1984 the detonator of a small device exploded 578W in the ablutions area of an H block without setting off the attached charge of one to two ounces of commercial explosive.
Explosive substances were found on the following dates in 1983: 23 September; 3 October; and 24 November.
Ammunition was discovered on the following dates in 1983: 29 June; 6, 8 and 11 July; and 23 September.
Firearms have not been found within the prison.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during what periods since 1 January 1983 explosive sniffers have been available for the use of prison officers in Magilligan prison.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1984, c. 354]: Dogs trained to detect explosives, or equipment designed for that purpose, have been available on request to all prison establishments in Northern Ireland, including Magilligan, during the entire period.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether explosive sniffers are issued; and under what procedure they are issued to prisons in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1984, c. 355]:Explosives detectors are available to all prisons on request under arrangements between the prison department and Army headquarters, Northern Ireland. In addition, a number of dogs in the prison service dog section are trained to detect explosives.