§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if pregnant women prisoners are handcuffed while in labour and during childbirth; and if he will make a statement; [9024]
(2) if he will make a statement about the supervision of pregnant women prisoners; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to the Prison Service on this issue. [9025]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe subject of the questions relate to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked the chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 23 January 1996:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your two Questions about the handcuffing and supervision of pregnant women prisoners.All security category A and B prisoners, including women prisoners, who are required to be taken outside the prison are subject to security precautions including the use of handcuffs. However women prisoners would not be handcuffed whilst in labour, and staff would be expected, with the approval of the prison Governor, to have regard to individual circumstances in the supervision which would apply.