§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason category A prisoners in Belmarsh prison are required to leave defence papers in their cell during a search. [60014]
§ Mr. George HowarthSection 17.73 of the Prison Service Security Manual, a copy of which is in the Library, stipulates that, during a cell search, staff must examine legal correspondence thoroughly, in the absence of the prisoner, so far as is necessary to ensure that it is bona fide correspondence between the prisoner and a legal adviser and does not conceal anything else. This applies to all prisoners in all closed prisons.
When searching cells, it is essential that prison officers search all items in the prisoner's possession. If legal documents are not searched there is a risk of other documents and small items, such as blades or drugs, being concealed.
This policy has been tested in the Court of Appeal and I am satisfied that it is within the law.
Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions on applications, November 1996 to October 1998, for nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 2 Principal applicants Applications Decisions Total Port In country Total decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Total refusals 1996 November 50 30 20 35 — 5 35 December 55 35 20 65 55 5 5