HC Deb 18 November 1991 vol 199 cc13-4W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of prisons in England and Wales holding category A prisoners on 1 November.

Mrs. Rumbold

Twenty-three.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of category A prisoners in prisons in the United Kingdom as of 1 November.

Mrs. Rumbold

Six hundred and two in England and Wales. The position in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and in Northern Ireland for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the review by the prison service into the current policy for the classification and treatment of remand prisoners, at present given a provisional category A classification, is complete; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

This review is being finalised in the light of a security audit conducted by Mr. G. H. Lakes CB, MC, former deputy director general of the Prison Service and Mr. R. Hadfield QPM, chief constable of the West Midlands police, into arrangements for holding and managing category A prisoners. The audit report was received by my right hon. Friend on 1 November and is currently being considered.