§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers working in Brixton between 1996 and April 2002 who had previous military experience had served in Northern Ireland. [65440]
§ Hilary BennInformation on the earlier careers of prison staff is not held in the form required by the question and could only be obtained by asking individuals. As previously explained to my hon. Friend in a written answer from my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Beverley Hughes) on 11 June 2002,Official Report, column 1243W, this would involve examining around 1,300 files and interviewing several hundred staff, many of whom no longer work for the Prison Service. This could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.