HC Deb 17 March 1997 vol 292 cc399-402W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on whose authority a label was attached to newspapers sent to Ms Roisin McAliskey stating that they were not to be issued to her until she complained or a parliamentary question was tabled. [19716]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 13 March 1997]: Responsibility for this matter 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. Pearson to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about a label attached to newspapers sent to Ms Roisin McAliskey. Ms McAliskey, like all prisoners, may receive any newspapers she requires from a local newsagent. She is not allowed to receive newspapers direct through the post. On one occasion newspapers were received in the post. They were not issued but kept so that they could be handed to her family when they visited. Again, this is standard practice with items received for prisoners which they may not have. A sticker had been attached to the newspapers stating that the papers should not be issued until a complaint was received or a Question asked. As soon as this was brought to the governor's attention he ordered an immediate investigation under the terms of the Prison Service Code of Discipline. The member of staff responsible for this extremely ill judged and wholly unacceptable behaviour has been orally reprimanded and warned about future behaviour. I apologise unreservedly for this woeful episode. I am satisfied that swift and appropriate action was taken to deal with the incident.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 February,Official Report, column 214, what decisions have been made concerning arrangements for the care of Roisin McAliskey's baby should she give birth while still in prison; and if those decisions were an operational or policy matter. [20072]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter 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. Pearson to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the decision as to whether Roisin McAliskey may keep her baby with her at Holloway prison. Roisin McAliskey applied on 14 February to be located on the Mother and Baby Unit at Holloway with her baby after it is born. Her application was considered, following the normal processes which apply to all expectant mothers, by the Admissions Board at Holloway, who considered the views of independent experts in the development needs of babies, as well as logistical issues. The Assessment Board has now advised the Governor that Roisin McAliskey's application should be approved, the Governor has recommended approval and this recommendation has been accepted by the Operational Director responsible for Holloway. Ms McAliskey has been told that she may keep her baby with her after the birth. She will, as do all other mothers, have to sign a compact agreeing to be of reasonable behaviour and to co-operate with the ethos and regime of the Unit. Babies in the Unit normally remain with their mothers until the age of nine months. The decision to allow Roisin McAliskey to keep her baby has followed the standard procedures and processes that would apply to any other prisoner.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the alterations in the prison regime and rules governing the treatment of Roisin McAliskey subsequent to her recategorisation. [20019]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter 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. Pearson to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the alterations to the treatment of Roisin McAliskey following her recategorisation. Following a routine review of her security status Roisin McAliskey remains a Category A prisoner but has been downgraded from high risk to standard risk within that category. As a result some of the security arrangements which have been in operation have been relaxed. The number of strip searches to which Roisin McAliskey had been subject has been reduced and she is no longer being strip searched before and after every open visit within the prison. She is now only being strip searched on the same basis as all other prisoners at Holloway. This means before leaving the prison for court appearances and on return to the prison; as part of a cell search and drug testing procedures; on a random basis; or if there were reasonable suspicion she had secreted something about her person. These arrangements took effect on 7 March. Further relaxations as a consequence of the security review will take effect from 13 March. As a result, she will be able to attend chapel, to use the gym and the swimming pool, and to attend ante-natal classes with other prisoners. The number of overnight security checks will be reduced so that the light in her cell can be extinguished for most of the night.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 430, if he will support the request of Roisin McAliskey to be accompanied by two close relatives during her confinement should she remain remanded in custody. [20020]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter 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. Pearson to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the request of Roisin McAliskey to be accompanied by two close relatives during her confinement. As I stated in my reply to your previous question, we have already agreed to Ms McAliskey's request. She will be allowed to have the birthing partners she has requested unless the hospital staff raise any objection on medical grounds.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the security categorisation given to Roisin McAliskey; and if the determination of such categorisation is an operational or policy matter. [20018]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter 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. Pearson to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the security categorisation of Roisin McAliskey. Both Ministers and the Prison Service have received numerous representations on Ms McAliskey's behalf, and many of these refer to the conditions in which she is being held. These conditions stem, in part from her status as a category A prisoner. The decision as to the appropriate security category for an individual prisoner is an operational one. Ms McAliskey's security category was set after consideration of the reason for her detention and the risk she would pose should she escape from custody. Her security category is kept under regular review and was recently changed from category A (high risk) to category A (standard risk).