HC Deb 11 March 1998 vol 308 cc198-9W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions were issued prior to 9 September 1994 to senior officers at HMP Whitemoor concerning the completion of written reports following serious incidents at the prison. [32778]

Ms Quin

Instructions issued to officers prior to 9 September were those contained in Circular Instruction 18/1988, a copy of which is in the Library. This instruction to governors, which was issued on 12 May 1988, revised earlier guidance to staff on the reporting of incidents.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff attended the training session held on how to behave in court for HMP Whitemoor personnel due to give evidence at the January 1997 trial of those accused of the HMP Whitemoor escape; who conducted the training session; and what subjects were covered in the training session. [32780]

Ms Quin

All staff required to attend court hearings were invited to attend a general training session on court procedures. No training was provided in respect of the presentation of evidence connected with the specific trial itself. Training in court procedures using hypothetical cases, including the practice of giving evidence, was provided by a designated governor at Whitemoor who had responsibility for court liaison.

The governor also produced a training pack to assist officers called to give evidence at court. In the course of the trial proceedings, a copy of this training pack was supplied to the defence.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action was taken against staff at HMP Whitemoor assessed by his Department to have given misleading information to the Woodcock Inquiry. [32781]

Ms Quin

No formal disciplinary action was taken against any staff in respect of matters arising out of the Whitemoor escape.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates between 24 April 1994 and 8 September 1994 the HMP Whitemoor Governor visited the special secure unit within the prison. [32782]

Ms Quin

Records are incomplete in terms of detailing visits to the Unit. The then Governor believes he visited the Unit on three to six occasions in the period April 1994 to September 1994.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date metal detecting portal equipment was(a) delivered to and (b)installed at the visitors' entrance at HMP Whitemoor; [32783]

(2) on what date an x-ray machine was (a) delivered to and (b) installed at the visitors' entrance at HMP Whitemoor; [32784]

(3) if (a) metal detecting portal equipment and (b) an x-ray machine at the special secure unit at HMP Whitemoor were in place in September 1994. [32785]

Ms Quin

The metal detecting portal equipment was delivered and installed in May 1995. The x-ray equipment was delivered and installed in May 1995. No metal detecting portal equipment or x-ray equipment was in place in the Special Secure Unit in September 1994.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions between I May 1994 and 9 September 1994 searches were carried out of HMP Whitemoor staff arriving for work; and if it was possible for staff approaching the prison to see in advance that such searches were being carried out. [32786]

Ms Quin

Regular searching of staff was not carried out before September 1994 and records of searches of staff were not maintained. It would have been possible for staff approaching the prison to see that such searches were in progress.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library transcripts of interviews with prison staff conducted by Sir John Woodcock and his inquiry team into the 9 September 1994 escape from HMP Whitemoor. [32787]

Ms Quin

The Woodcock investigation into the escape from Whitemoor was an independent inquiry commissioned by the then Home Secretary. Sir John Woodcock made it clear in the introduction to his report that all information provided to the inquiry would be treated with total confidentiality. Staff and others were told that the information provided would not be released without their consent or by order of a court.

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