§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the removal of basic privileges from 38 republican prisoners in prison in Britain; what representations he has received about such prisoners and visitors being stopped from talking in Irish; what instructions he or his officials have issued concerning these matters since 1 September 1994; and if he will make a statement. [17667]
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 3 April 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Max Madden, dated 21 April 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what representations have been received about the removal of basic privileges from 38 republican prisoners; what representations have been received about such prisoners and visitors being stopped from talking in Irish; what instructions have been issued concerning these matters since September 1994.Representations have been received from a number of organisations and individuals about the treatment of some Irish republican prisoners. Some of these representations have been about enabling a particular prisoner in Full Sutton prison to speak Irish during visits by his family. This he is permitted to do.Governors of the prisons concerned are required to treat prisoners in accordance with Prison Rules, Standing Orders and any relevant instructions. No instructions have been issued to the Governors of the prisons concerned about the treatment of Irish republican prisoners. The regime under which the five Irish prisoners who 298W escaped from the Special Secure Unit at Whitemoor in September 1994 are held in Belmarsh was approved by Prison Service headquarters.