HC Deb 05 May 1993 vol 224 cc77-8W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making with the establishment of a code of standards for the prison regime; when he expects the code to be ready for issue; what account he has taken of previous recommendations on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from I. Dunbar to Mr. Harry Green way, dated May 1993:

In the temporary absence of the Director General, Mr. Lewis, the Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about progress on establishing a code of standards for the Prison Service.

Following two public consultation seminars last year on the aims of a code of standards, drafting of the code is now well underway in the Prison Service. Standards are being drafted to reflect the Prison Service's responsibilities towards both the public and prisoners, and will take account of the views expressed in the Woolf Report, the Government White Paper "Custody, Care and Justice", and comments received during consultation.

The code will be published in December 1993.