§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the gateway at Her Majesty's prison, Brixton leading into the prison's works yard has been secured or blocked yet; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldMy right hon. Friend announced on 5 August that the gate to the works compound which proved insecure had been replaced by a sterile area protected by double gates, both manned, and each protected by separate locks not shared with any other part of the prison. Certain further action in relation to closed-circuit television coverage and electronic locking will very shortly be completed.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to what action he has taken to end the holding of category A prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Brixton.
§ Mrs. RumboldIn my right hon. Friend's statement of 5 August, in which we accepted all the recommendations made by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons in his report into the Brixton escape, my right hon. Friend announced the aim of transferring all high-risk category A inmates from Brixton to Belmarsh by mid-September. These transfers were completed on 3 September since when Brixton has held only standard risk category A prisoners.
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§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current procedure at Her Majesty's prison, Brixton for the regular training of staff;
(2) when the last review at Her Majesty's prison, Brixton of the emergency control room operation was carried out; and what were the results.
§ Mrs. RumboldMy right hon. Friend announced on 5 August that a review of the emergency control room at Brixton prison was being undertaken. This was completed on 16 August 1991. The review made a number of recommendations to improve management, contingency planning, and liaison with the police, and to introduce a new training programme for those staff working in the emergency control room. All the recommendations are being implemented.