HC Deb 26 February 1988 vol 128 cc381-2W
Mr. Jack Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list Her Majesty's prisons which provide living accommodation for prison officers, and their families; if he will identify the number of units Security, of informing claimants about specific benefits consequent upon the establishing of the new unit dealing with assisted prison visits.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

No such statutory obligation applies, or has ever applied, to the assisted prison visits scheme. None the less, we shall be considering the adequacy of present information about the Scheme.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances individual prison officers are asked to give an opinion as to whether or riot an assisted visit expenses claim is justified; and if he will make it his policy to discontinue this practice.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Under present arrangements prison officers may be asked to confirm or clarify from their records details which are supplied by applicants for assisted visits. We have no plans to discontinue this practice.