Vol. 429 No. 4
87 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the serious problems arising from segregating HIV positive prisoners; if her attention has further been drawn to the concern at the possible rate of suicides through over-dosing by prisoners; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware that the weight of expert opinion is against the segregation of prisoners who are HIV positive. This subject has been considered by the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases in Prison whose report I received recently. When I have completed my examination of the report I will make a further statement about the segregation issue.
I am very concerned about the tragedy of suicides in the prisons whether caused by drug overdoses or otherwise. In implementing the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Prison Deaths, I am satisfied that my Department is doing everything practicable to prevent them. The measures include extensive precautions to prevent drugs being brought into the prisons illegally.
