Independent Commissioner for Holding Centres

HC Deb 29 February 1996 vol 272 c645W

Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's third annual report as Independent Commissioner for Holding Centres. [18766]

Sir Patrick Mayhew

I have today arranged for the copies of Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's annual report for 1995 to be placed in the Library.

I am grateful to the commissioner for his report and for the assurance that it provides that he has found absolutely nothing that might give anyone the slightest cause for concern about the care and treatment of detainees held in the custody of uniformed officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

I shall be studying the recommendations which Sir Louis has made carefully in the light of the changed circumstances since the ending of Provisional IRA's cessation of military operations.