§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners by gender(a) sentenced and (b) on remand have requested vegan food and toiletries while detained at Her Majesty's remand centre, Low Newton (i) during 1995 and (ii) 1996 to date; [29340]
588W(2) what representations his Department has received regarding the non-availability of (a) sanitary products, (b) vegan foods and (c) toiletries for vegans at Her Majesty's remand centre, Low Newton in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [29339]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for these matters 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 A. J. Butler to Mr. Bill Etherington, dated 17 May 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about representations on the non-availability of internal sanitary products, vegan foods and toiletries for vegans at Low Newton remand centre; and the number of times prisoners have requested vegan foods and toiletries at the centre during 1995 and 1996.In the last year, letters were received from the Wear Valley Women's Aid Organisation and from the Vegan Society about provision for two sentenced female vegan prisoners. A number of letters were also received from the families and friends of the two women and these were replied to by the prison.I am not aware of these items being requested by other prisoners during 1995 and 1996 to date.