§ Mr. Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in line with the Swedish model, he will provide facilities for the broadcasting media to phone up convicted prisoners to seek their views on the legitimacy of their convictions and to elicit comment on the state of comfort in which they are being detained.
§ Mr. John PattenWe have no plans to do so.
§ Mr. Mallonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests have been made by prisoners serving sentences in Britain for transfers to prisons in Northern Ireland since 1968; and how many transfer have been made as a result of these requests.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information readily available extends back to 1973 and relates to inmates serving sentences in England and Wales. Since the beginning of that year there have been 238 requests from inmates for permanent transfer to establishments in Northern Ireland. and 25 transfers. A number of prisoners made more than one request.