HC Deb 29 November 1991 vol 199 c653W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he was informed of the recent Staffordshire police operation in Brixton gaol;

(2) if the involvement of Staffordshire police inside Brixton prison was made known to Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons when preparing his report.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

The allegations on which the questions appear to be based fall to be considered by Mr. Colin Bailey, whose appointment was announced by the chief constable of Staffordshire on 20 November. As I made clear in my reply to the hon. Member on 21 November at column265, information relating to the prisoners' intention to escape was not reported to Ministers until after the escape. It was made available to prison service headquarters and to the governor of HM prison Brixton in February 1991 and to HM chief inspector of prisons in the context of his inquiry into the escape.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the alleged break-in to Brixton prison three days prior to the escape of two suspected IRA terrorists.

Mrs. Rumbold

The allegations have been looked into. There is no evidence to substantiate them.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities exist in Brixton prison to screen incoming packages.

Mrs. Rumbold

Primarily x-ray facilities and metal detectors.