§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he intends to publish guidelines concerning remission for people imprisoned for poll tax non-payment; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will (a) outline what guidance his Department has circulated to prison governors concerning poll tax imprisonment, (b) list the circulars and the dates of their distribution and (c) place a copy of each in the Library.
§ Mrs. RumboldGuidance circulated to governors on 12 June advised that terms of imprisonment for non-payment of the community charge are not eligible for reduction by remission or remand time. A copy of this instruction is being placed in the Library together with prison standing order 12 which gives full details of the terms of imprisonment that do not attract remission on remand time. A revised version of the standing order, to be published in a few months' time, will include reference to the community charge.
§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which categories of prisoners are allowed access to a telephone while in prison; and if he will list those of Her Majesty's prisons which have(a) payphones and (b) cardphones; what plans he has to improve access to phones; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldCardphones for use of convicted inmates have been installed in the category C and D, and equivalent female and young offender, establishments listed in the following table.
At all establishments inmates may have access to an official telephone with the permission of the governor in special circumstances.
On 25 February my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, announced on publication of the Woolf inquiry report that cardphones would be provided in all those establishments which do not already have them. This programme is being taken forward as quickly as resources permit.
There are no ordinary payphones designated for inmates' use except at Haslar in respect of those persons detained under the Immigration Acts.
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Prisoners with cardphones for convicted inmates' use Prison Category Acklington C Aldington C Ashwell C Askham Grange Female Aylesbury Young Offenders Institution Blantyre House C Bullwood Hall Female/Young Offenders Institution Camp Hill C Castington Young Offenders Institution Channings Wood C Cookham Wood Female Deerbolt Young Offenders Institution Dover Young Offenders Institution Down view C Drake Hall Female East Sutton Park Female/Young Offenders Institution Eastwood Park Young Offenders Institution Erlestoke House C Everthorpe Young Offenders Institution Featherstone C Feltham Young Offenders Institution Ford D Glen Parva Young Offenders Institution Guys Marsh Young Offenders Institution Haslar Immigration Custody-payphones Hatfield Young Offenders Institution Haverigg C Hewell Grange Young Offenders Institution Highpoint C/D Hollesley Bay Young Offenders Institution Holloway Female Huntercombe Young Offenders Institution Kirkham D Kirklevington Grange Young Offenders Institution Lancaster C Latchmere House C Leyhill D Lindholme C Littlehey C Low Newton Female/Remand Morton Hall D The Mount C New Hall Female Northallerton Young Offenders Institution Northeye C North Sea Camp D Norwich C/D prisoners only Onley Young Offenders Institution Portland Young Offenders Institution Pucklechurch Female/Young Offenders Institution Ranby C Risley C Rochester C Rudgate D Send C Shepton Mallet C Spring Hill D Stafford C Standford Hill D Stocken C Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution Styal Female Sudbury/Foston D Swinfen Hall Young Offenders Institution Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution Thorpe Arch C Usk and Prescoed Young Offenders Institution The Verne C Wayland C Wellingborough C Werrington Young Offenders Institution Wetherby Young Offenders Institution Whatton C Winchester Local Wymott C Notes:
1. Prisoners in female and young offender establishments who are on remand or who are being held in category A conditions are not permitted at present access to cardphones.
2. Winchester is a local prison, holding all categories of prisoner, including those on remand. Cardphones have been operational at Winchester since December last year in order to test the conditions under which category B and remand prisoners may have access to them.