§ 1. Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with present facilities and arrangements for allowing representatives of the Press and broadcasting authorities to visit Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. James Callaghan)Subject to the need to maintain security and to avoid undue interference with the work of the establishment, it is my policy to grant such facilities and considerable efforts are made to assist the Press and radio and television authorities.
§ Mr. DavidsonI appreciate what my right hon. Friend has done in this matter. Does not he agree that frequent and regular visits by the Press and by television authorities could help to expose some of the conditions under which both prisoners and prison officers live and perhaps prevent some unpleasant occurrences?
§ Mr. CallaghanI think that it is appropriate that representatives of the Press and television should have opportunities to visit these closed establishments. But clearly one must have regard to the needs of the establishments themselves. For example, if a film company asks to operate inside a prison for a week, it becomes a little difficult to meet such a request.