§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reply to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Stockton, South about. Mr. Kenneth Carter, a prisoner in Durham prison.
§ Mr. MellorI have today replied to the questions tabled by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why deductions are being made from Mr. Kenneth Carter for association expenses in Durham prison.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 8 February 1990]: It has been common practice in all Her Majesty's prisons for a small deduction to be made from inmates' earnings as a contribution to the establishment's general purposes fund. This practice has been reviewed and instructions are to be issued for it to cease.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will arrange for Mr. Kenneth Carter, prisoner No. AD3434, to be transferred from Durham to another prison;
(2) on how many occasions Mr. Kenneth Carter, prisoner No. AD3434, has moved cell in Durham prison; and what was the reason in each case;
(3) what complaints he has received concerning harassment of Mr. Kenneth Carter, a prisoner in Durham prison, following the death of his former cellmate; and if he will make a statement;
(4) when a representative of the board of visitors of Durham prison last met Mr. Kenneth Carter, prisoner No. AD3434;
(5) why Mr. Kenneth Carter, prisoner No. AD3434, has been recategorised as category A in Durham prison.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 8 February 1990]: Mr. Kenneth Carter has been charged with the murder of a former cellmate at Durham prison on 5–6 January 1990. For this reason his prison security status is now category A and he will stay at Her Majesty's prison Durham until his trial.
No record is kept of cell movements, but immediately after the death of his former cellmate, Mr. Carter was moved to the prison hospital to which members of the board of visitors make regular visits. Mr. Carter saw a member of the board of visitors on 11 February 1990.
Other than a letter which my hon. Friend forwarded to me on 16 January 1990, no complaints about harassment of Mr. Carter have been received.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the allocation of shoes to Mr. Kenneth Carter, a prisoner in Durham prison;
(2) why Mr. Kenneth Carter, a prisoner in Durham prison, was denied an exercise period on 29 and 30 January; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorOn 29 January 1990, inclement weather prevented Mr. Carter from taking exercise. On 30 January 1990 he took no exercise as he had been refused a request to wear slippers while on exercise. There are no medical reasons why Mr. Carter should not wear the prison shoes with which he has been issued.