§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they reconcile the statement of the Lord Davies of Oldham on 27 March (H.L. Deb., Col. 255) that "detainees held in prisons have access to a telephone, although the telephones are used in the main for incoming calls" with the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 59) that "prisoners may not receive incoming telephone calls and faxes. However, exceptional provision has been made for Immigration Act detainees held in the dedicated centres at Lindholme and Haslar prisons to receive incoming telephone calls and faxes". [HL1751]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe position is as stated in my earlier Answer,WA 59, 29 March. I understand that my noble friend Lord Davies of Oldham is writing to those who took part in the debate on 27 March to 27WA clarify or expand upon a number of points, and the issue of access to telephones to receive incoming calls is one such point.