§ Mr. Neil HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making in improving the cost-effectiveness of the Northern Ireland prison service.
§ Mr. Tom KingThe Government are continually seeking to improve the cost-effectiveness of the Northern Ireland prison service, as is the case with the provision of other public services. Progress has already been made but a particular source of concern for some time has been the increasing cost of housing special category prisoners in three compounds in the old part of Maze prison, even though their numbers have fallen. Accordingly, on Sunday 5 June the remaining 90 special category prisoners were transferred from three compounds in the old part of Maze to two cell blocks in the prison. The prisoners will continue to be held separately from other inmates, and to be treated as special category. Arrangements have been made to reproduce the previous regime to the extent that this is practicable in the different accommodation.
462WThe closure of the remaining compounds will result in more cost-effective use of prison accommodation. The transfer will also result in more contact between staff and these prisoners than was possible in the compounds; most of the men are serving indeterminate sentences, and the new situation should enable a better assessment to be made of their suitability for release into the community on licence.
I have therefore agreed that the case of each special category prisoner serving a sentence of life imprisonment or detention at the Secretary of State's pleasure should be reviewed by the Life Sentence Review Board within about six months. The board will review the cases in accordance with the normal criteria which it applies to all prisoners serving indeterminate sentences. The prisoners concerned are being informed of this review, and will have the normal opportunity to make their own written representations to the board.