HC Deb 07 April 2000 vol 347 c604W
Mrs. McKenna

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will publish Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's Seventh Annual report as Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres. [118647]

Mr. Mandelson

I have today arranged for copies of Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's Annual Report for 1999 to be placed in the Library.

Sir Louis has welcomed the closure of Castlereagh holding centre on 31 December 1999; and the Government and the Chief Constable remain committed to the closure of the Strand Road and Gough Barracks holding centres as soon as practicable.

I welcome Sir Louis' Report and will respond as soon as I have had the opportunity to consider its content carefully.