§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many petitions for transfer from a gaol in England and Wales to a gaol in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland are currently outstanding;
(2) how many petitions for transfer from gaols in England and Wales to gaols in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland have been received in the last 10 years; and how many have been successful;
(3) how many prisoners who are serving a prison sentence in England and Wales have been transferred following a petition, to a gaol in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland in the last 10 years.
§ Mr. MellorThe table gives the numbers of petitions that have been received for permanent transfer under section 26(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 from prisons in England and Wales to prisons in Northern Ireland, and the number granted, in each year since 1980.
Year Petitions Transfers 1980 10 1 1981 7 — 1982 7 — 1983 20 3 1984 12 1 1985 26 4 1986 25 2 1987 31 3 1988 62 10 1989 55 17 There are 15 petitions for permanent transfer to Northern Ireland to which a final reply has not yet been given; and three prisoners whose transfers have been agreed are currently awaiting transfer.
Transfers of prisoners are not possible between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland as, although the Republic of Ireland has signed the Council of Europe 730W convention on the transfer of sentenced persons, it has not yet ratified it. The United Kingdom ratified the convention in 1985.