HC Deb 28 January 1985 vol 72 c69W
Mr. Hume

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if any staff members have been reprimanded as a result of conduct during a strip search in prisons in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years;

(2) how many strip searches of women prisoners have taken place in the presence of one or more male prison officers in each of the past six years;

(3) what type of items which may constitute a danger to the prison system are intended to be discovered by strip searching;

(4) if he will make a statement detailing those items which have been found during a strip searching in each of the past five years;

(5) if he will make a statement on the contribution of strip searches to prison security in Northern Ireland;

(6) what study of strip searching he has made since his appointment; and what consideration he is giving to such investigations;

(7) how many strip searches have taken place in each of the Northern Ireland prisons in each of the past 10 years;

(8) how many prisoners have been subjected to strip searching in each of Northern Ireland's prisons in the past 10 years;

(9) what medical or nursing staff are required to be present during a strip search of a prisoner;

(10) at what level of authority individual strip searches are ordered or authorised;

(11) what guidelines are issued to prison staff regarding strip searches; and what sanction there is against a member of staff who breaches those guidelines;

(12) if there has been any evidence, from medical reports on prisoners, of mental, nervous or physical injuries caused by strip searching in Northern Ireland prisons;

(13) if he will order an end to strip searches in Northern Ireland;

(14) what efforts his Department is making regarding the welfare of women prisoners in Northern Ireland; and what further initiatives he proposes in this regard.

Mr. Scott

I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.