§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list each prison in the Province where slopping out is still in practice; and if he will set out his plans, and the estimated date, for ending slopping out for each prison.
§ Sir John WheelerSlopping out takes place in three Northern Ireland prisons—Her Majesty's prison Belfast, Her Majesty's prison Maze and Her Majesty's prison Magilligan.
The provision of en suite and in-cell sanitation facilities is a major element of an extensive refurbishment programme currently under way at Belfast prison. As the prison will have to remain operational, the programme of work will continue until 2000.
While there are currently no firm plans for ending slopping out at Maze and Magilligan prisons, where periods of unlock are extensive, the Northern Ireland Prison Service is continuing to explore a range of options for providing prisoners with 24-hour access to sanitation facilities.