Written question asked by Kevin McNamara (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 December 1997. It was answered by Baroness Quin (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 December 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many family telephone calls and of what duration Brian McHugh was permitted to make in (a) September, (b) October and (c) November 1997. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many family telephone calls and of what duration Brian McHugh was permitted to make in (a) September, (b) October and (c) November 1997. [20332] Ms Quin: Mr. McHugh made 34 calls in September 1997; 28 calls in October 1997; and 30 calls in November 1997. All the calls made were to members of Mr. McHugh's family. The length of Mr. McHugh's calls varied from three to 20 minutes. The standard procedures concerning the use of telephones by High Risk prisoners at Belmarsh Prison do not set an upper limit on the duration of any telephone call. Prisoners cannot, however, make calls when their phonecards have expired or when the call would prevent another prisoner's pre-booked telephone call taking place.

Secondary information