§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what decision has been made about whether, in the event of Roisin McAliskey giving birth while in custody, she will be handcuffed to a birthing partner or prison officer while the child is being delivered; [15636]
(2) if the change in policy whereby a prisoner is not handcuffed or otherwise restrained during labour and birth of her child applies to category A prisoners. [15637]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answers 17 February 1997]: Responsibility 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 19 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the use of restraints during childbirth.The Home Secretary in his statement of 18 January 1996 made it clear that no woman admitted to hospital to give birth would be restrained while in hospital.This includes Roisin McAliskey and any other category A prisoners.