§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions which authorise the use of prison ships.
§ Mr. Peter LloydSections 33, 35 and 36 of the Prisons Act 1952—as amended by section 87(8) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991—deal with the Secretary of State's powers to provide prisons.
We are considering this legislation carefully to see whether it would cover the use of marine detention vessels. We would not attempt to hold prisoners in such vessels unless we were satisfied about the legality of such action.