HC Deb 12 March 1997 vol 292 cc249-51W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many high-risk category A(a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners are currently detained in prisons in Northern Ireland; how many of these prisoners are (i) women and (ii) men; how many such prisoners have been charged under extradition legislation in the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [19748]

(2) how many (a)remand and (b)convicted high risk category A prisoners, detained in Northern Ireland, and charged under extradition legislation over the last 10 years have been transferred to prisons in England and Wales; and how many such prisoners were pregnant; [19749]

(3) how many mother and baby units exist in prisons in Northern Ireland; how many prisoners and babies can be accommodated in such units; and how many babies have been born in prisons in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years. [19750]

Sir John Wheeler

Responsibility for subject of these questions has been delegated to the Northern Ireland Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. Mogg to Mr. Max Madden, dated 11 March 1997

In the absence of the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Prison Service the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to the 3 Parliamentary questions you have tabled. You requested information regarding:

  1. 1. How many high risk Category A (a)remand and (b)convicted prisoners are currently detained in prisons in Northern Ireland; how many of these prisoners are (i) women and (ii) men; how many such prisoners have been charged under extradition legislation in the last 5 years; and if he will make a statement.
  2. 2. How many (a) remand and (b) convicted high risk Category A prisoners, detained in Northern Ireland and charged under extradition legislation over the last 10 years have been transferred to prisons in England and Wales; and how many such prisoners were pregnant.
  3. 3. How many mother & baby units exist in prisons in Northern Ireland; how many prisoners and babies can be accommodated in such units and how many babies have been born in prisons in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years.

Firstly categorisation in the Northern Ireland Prison Service is different to that used in England & Wales however, prisoners known as Category A would broadly equate with top and high risk prisoners in Northern Ireland.

I therefore respond to your questions as follows:

No. 17
Number
HMP Maghaberry: Top Risk 0
Remand male, High Risk 89
Sentenced male, High Risk 63
Remand female, High Risk 0
Sentenced female, High Risk 24
Total 97
HMP Maze: Top Risk 0
Remand High Risk 9
Sentenced High Risk 177
No female prisoners at HMP Maze 0
Total 186

High risk prisoners are not detained in any other prison establishment and at present we do not have any top risk prisoners.

Five prisoners have been charged under extradition legislation in the past 5 years.

No. 18.

Nil.

No. 19.

  1. (i) The NI Prison Service has a total of 6 mother and baby units.
  2. (ii) 1 mother and 1 baby per cell.
  3. (iii) 4 babies have been born in prison over the last 10 years.

I hope this information is helpful.