§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which prisons there are prisoners restricted to closed visits; and how many prisoners are involved. [38840]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
69WLetter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Seamus Mallon, dated 30 October 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisons in which there are prisoners restricted to closed visits; and how many prisoners are involved.
On 26 October this year, there were fifteen prisoners in England and Wales subject to closed visits. Eight were at Belmarsh prison and seven were at Whitemoor.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for prisoners who are restricted to closed visits to have(a) visits from their legal advisers and (b) consular visits. [38843]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Seamus Mallon, dated 30 October 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the arrangements made for persons who are restricted to closed visits to have (a) visits from their legal advisors and (b) consular visits.
A policy of closed visits was introduced for category A exceptional risk prisoners on 20 June this year. The aim of the policy was to ensure the most secure conditions possible for the highest risk prisoners. Only the elimination of all contact between prisoner and visitor was regarded as ensuring this security. The position of legal advisors and consular officials was carefully considered before deciding that the policy should also be applied to them to avoid the possibility that they might become potential targets for intimidation, threats or taken hostage in order to coerce them into assisting escape attempts.
Visits for legal advisors and consular officials take place out of hearing, but in sight of, prison staff. Where it is necessary to pass documents from the visitor to the prisoner the documents can be placed in an envelope which is then passed through an X-ray machine. In the most exceptional circumstances, for example when there is a need to discuss matters with a large number of prisoners at the same time, an Operational Director may authorise an open visit.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A prisoners are currently in the prison system in(a) England and (b) Wales; and how many are in each sub-category. [38847]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Seamus Mallon dated 30 October 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of category A prisoners currently held in prison establishments in (a) England and (b) Wales, and the number in each sub-category.
There are no prison establishments in Wales which hold category A prisoners on a permanent basis. For establishments in England, the information requested is given in the table below:
70W
Number of category A prisoners held in prison establishments in England and the number in each escape risk classification at 23 October 1995 Number Exceptional escape risk 15 High escape risk 150 Standard escape risk 1645 Total number of category A prisoners 810 1 Figure includes 19 young offenders.