Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why there has been a recent change in policy to combine the compound and cellular sections of Her Majesty's prison, the Maze; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, of 9 May 1986, c. 250]: In 1985 the prospective opening of the new prisons at Maghaberry led to a wide-ranging review of the prison system in Northern Ireland. One of the conclusions reached was that the significantly reduced number of special category prisoners in the Maze compound prison made its administration as a separate entity increasingly unviable. It was therefore decided that the residue of the compound prison should be managed as an annexe of the main cellular prison and the two were formally amalgamated under the control of one governor with effect from 1 April 1986. Progress is being made toward the integration of common functions, and this process is expected to continue for some time.