§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many immigration detainees are currently held in HMP Rochester; [13284]
150W(2) on what date inmates on hunger strike in HMP Rochester first refused food; [13285]
(3) how many immigration detainees are currently refusing food in HMP Rochester; [13286]
(4) if he will list the nationalities and immigration status of the prisoners currently on hunger strike at HMP Rochester; [13287]
(5) if he will list the number of prisoners, by category and status, currently on hunger strike in each of Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement; [13288]
(6) what medical facilities from (a) HMP medical service and (b) the NHS have been offered to prisoners refusing food at HMP Rochester; [13289]
(7) what general visiting restrictions currently apply at HMP Rochester; and if he will make a statement; [13292]
(8) what recent visits have been made to HMP Rochester by (a) Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons and (b) officials from his Department. [13293]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answers 29 January 1997]: As of 10 February 1997, 169 Immigration Act detainees were held at Rochester detainee centre, Her Majesty's prison Rochester. Meal refusals began on 6 January, when some 70 detainees on D wing started to refuse prison food in protest at their detention under Immigration Act powers. Since that time, there has been a gradual and steady return to eating. At 0800 hours on 10 February, three detainees were refusing food, although the numbers fluctuate.
It would be contrary to normal practice to give the details of individual detainees, but the three food refusers at Rochester comprise two illegal entrants and one passenger refused entry.
Excluding the immigration detainees who are refusing food at Rochester detainee centre, the details of other people held in prison refusing prison prepared meals are as follows:
- Bristol: one category A male on remand
- Belmarsh: one sentenced category A male
- Dartmoor: one sentenced category C male
There is a well equipped health care centre at Rochester prison and detainees have access to medical care comparable with that which would be provided by a general practitioner. There is medical officer cover 24 hours per day, either within the prison or "on call" supported by 24-hour nursing cover. This includes a nurse attending each day between 9am and 9pm specifically allocated to the immigration detainees who are refusing food.
Detainees can apply to see the medical officer at any time, and can be admitted to the health care centre if their health gives cause for concern. Where appropriate, the medical officer will arrange for a detainee to be referred under guard for national health service treatment. To date, four of the detainees originally refusing food and fluids have received treatment at the Medway hospital, and one has been admitted to the Maidstone hospital and one to the Stockton Hall hospital.
Domestic visits for immigration detainees at Rochester prison occur from Monday to Saturday between 2pm and 4.30pm, during which time up to three adults and children 151W may visit. There are no restrictions on the number of visits, but visits must be booked in advance. No visiting orders are required. Legal representatives may visit from Monday to Friday between 9am and 11.30am or between 2pm and 4.30pm, but such visits must be booked in advance.
A full inspection of Rochester prison by a team from Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons took place in the week commencing 30 October 1995.
The area manager for Kent visited the establishment on 10 October 1996, 29 November 1996 and 14 January 1997, and a director of the immigration service visited on 22 October 1996. The director of operations visited on Wednesday 5 February and the Director General of the Prison Service on 7 February. Immigration officials attend the establishment daily to deal with questions from immigration detainees about their cases. There are also periodic visits by other staff from the immigration and nationality department.