§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans there are to rescind the standing order which states that visits to prisoners are not normally allowed on Good Friday and Christmas Day; and
69WAWhich prisons allow prisoners to receive visits from their families on Good Friday.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)Responsibility for the subject of these Questions has been delegated to the Prison Service and its Director General, Mr. Derek Lewis. The Director General has therefore arranged for a response to the questions and the letter is given below.
Letter from Mr. Derek Lewis, Director General of the Prison Service to Baroness David, dated 30th March 1994, and signed by Mr. A. J. Bulter, Director of Personnel and Services, in the absence of the Director General:
Lord Ferrers has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about the provision of visiting facilities at prisons to enable families to visit on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Prison Service Standing Order 5 does not proscribe the provision of visits on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday. It is for governors to decide, in the light of their operational requirements and available resources, whether visiting can be arranged on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
The following prisons intend to allow visits on Good Friday, 1st April 1994:
- HMP Blakenhurst
- HMP Camp Hill
- HMP Cardiff
- HMP Coldingley
- HMP Haslar
- HMP Moorland
- HMP The Wolds
- HMP Wellingborough