§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been transferred from (a) England and Wales to Northern Ireland in the latest available calendar year, (b) from Northern Ireland to England and Wales in the latest available calendar year, (c) from Scotland to Northern Ireland in each year since 1979 and (d) from Northern Ireland to Scotland in each year since 1979; and under which section of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 such transfers were carried out.
§ Mr. MellorFive prisoners were transferred from England and Wales to Northern Ireland in 1985, two of them on more than one occasion. Four of these transfers were under section 26 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 (permanent transfer) one under section 27 (temporary transfer) and two under section 29 (transfer for judicial purposes). No prisoner was transferred from Northern Ireland to England and Wales. Transfers between Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.