§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long Mr. Jim Robinson has been on the roof of HMP Gartree; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General for the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from I. Dunbar to Mr. Chris Mullin, dated 22 April 1993:
In the absence of Mr. Lewis, the Director General, the Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Mr. Jim Robinson's roof top protest at Gartree prison.Mr. Robinson has been on the roof of the central corridor building at Gartree since 23 February. He says that he is protesting about the Home Secretary's decision not to refer his case to the Court of Appeal. Staff are in daily contact with him and continue to monitor his state of health and well being.The protest is entirely peaceful and, I understand, is not aired against staff at Gartree prison or conditions there: no damage has been caused to the building. Staff who are skilled in negotiating in such incidents are in touch with Mr. Robinson. I very much hope that he will be persuaded to end his protest.