Written Answers
Prisoners: Ethnic Origins
asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of prisoners at each of the dispersal prisons respectively were identified as members of particular ethnic groups at the most convenient recent date.
The most recent information is given in the table. Details of the methods and sources and figures for all establishments were published on 18th June in The Ethnic Origins of Prisoners, Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Issue No. 17/86.
| POPULATIONS OF DISPERSAL PRISONS BY ETHNIC ORIGIN, ENGLAND AND WALES, 30TH JUNE, 1985 | |||||
| Percentages | |||||
| Ethnic origin | |||||
| white | West Indian/Guyanese, African | Indian Pakistni, Bangladeshi | Chinese, Arab, Mixed origin | Other and Not recorded (indlucing refused) | |
| Albany | 60 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 15 |
| Frankland | 87 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Gartree | 71 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| Hull(2) | 87 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Long Lartin | 79 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Parkhurst | 66 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
| Wakefield | 85 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Wormwood Scrubs(1) | 71 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| (1) Whole establishment—it is not possible centrally separately to identify the population of the dispersal wing. | |||||
| (2) Hull became a local prison in February 1986. | |||||
Us Navy Rimpac 86 Exercise
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Exercise RIMPAC in the Pacific is calculated to increase the likelihood of nuclear war, as suggested in the
Observer of 15th June, and whether they will withdraw British ships committed to this exercise.
No. The United States Navy Exercise RIMPAC 86 ended on 17th June. The Royal Navy's participation was intended to provide valuable operational training with our allies and friends, and did so.
International Raids
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Israeli raid on Tunis and the American raid on Libya paved the way for the South African raids on Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana and whether it is their view that in each case the raids were violations of the sovereignty of the nations whose territory was invaded from the air.
No. The raids on Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana were clear violations of sovereignty, as was the raid on Tunis. We condemned all four. The United States invoked the right of self-defence, recognised by Article 51 of the UN Charter, in their action against clearly defined targets in Libya related to terrorism.