Can the Minister tell the House whether involvement or participation in a hunger strike constitutes grounds for solitary confinement or for being kept alone?

Participation in a hunger strike—in other words, the refusal of food—is a breach of good order and discipline in prisons and gives rise to loss of privileges but not necessarily to close confinement.

In the present instance has this occurred?

It would occur to the extent that people who are on hunger strike are confined to bed. In that sense they would be alone in their cells.

Without taking into consideration the merits or otherwise of the reasons for such actions, would the Minister appreciate that the stress of mind which results from a hunger strike can be aggravated considerably by reason of a person being alone?

That may well be but if the prisoners choose voluntarily to refuse food, they are in breach of prison discipline and if they are confined to bed because of their weak condition it is illogical for them to complain of being left alone.