§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the Chief Inspector of Prisons that Moslems are poorly served at many establishments, and that accommodation for the use of minority faiths is either completely absent or seriously deficient at several establishments; whether they see any connection between these criticisms and the fact that the prison chaplaincy employs 425 full-time and part-time Christian ministers, but none from any other faith, and whether they will consult Moslem authorities with a view to appointing Imams to any prison in England and Wales which has a large enough Moslem population.
Earl FerrersArrangements for the provision of accommodation in prisons in England and Wales for services and meetings of other faiths were described in the reply given to the noble Lord on 10th December 1991(Official Report, WA30). In all prisons, some provision is made but facilities vary, and where existing provision is inadequate, the aim is to rectify this, wherever practicable.
36WAImams are already appointed, where appropriate, as ministers to prisons to meet the needs of Moslem prisoners and to visit prisoners of that faith. As the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for 1990–91 points out, some prisons have, however, been unable to secure the services of a visiting Imam.
The duties of Christian chaplains appointed to prison establishments include facilitating the religious observance of prisoners who are members of other faiths. These duties are undertaken conscientiously and the chief inspector's report gave particular recognition to the efforts made by prison chaplains to meet the pastoral needs of prisoners.