HC Deb 06 December 1989 vol 163 c261W
Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the arrangements for relatives to visit people held in custody.

Mr. Mellor

Convicted adult prisoners and convicted young offenders are entitled to a minimum of one half-hour visit every 28 days and 14 days respectively. More, and longer, visits are allowed wherever practicable.

Unconvicted prisoners are normally allowed a 5-minute vsit every day excluding Sunday (in some establishments), Christmas day, Boxing day and Good Friday. Longer visits are allowed wherever possible. In the event of particular difficulties at an establishment the regional director may authorise a reduction in the frequency of visits as long as the aggregated entitlement of one and a half hours per week is maintained.

Relatives on income support or on low incomes are able to claim travelling expenses for one prison visit every 28 days.