§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the practice of integration in Northern Ireland prisons, stating what practices apply in which prisons.
§ Mr. ScottThe Government remain of the view that the allocation of prisoners to accommodation without regard to paramilitary affiliation or religious denomination makes for more effective security and control and gives prisoners a better opportunity to serve their sentences free from paramilitary influence. Segregation can provide the opportunity for paramilitary organisations to increase their hold on prisoners and to organise cohesive action of a disruptive nature.
The remaining special category prisoners continue to be housed in compounds at Her Majesty's prison Maze according to paramilitary faction and there is de facto seregation in some cellular wings in the prison; prisoners in all other prisons are housed in mixed accommodation.