§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been referred to the prison ombudsman since his appointment. [18083]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe prison ombudsman had received 2,327 letters of complaint by 27 February 1996, of which 620 were eligible for investigation by his office; the eligibility of a further 121 was being considered. Investigations into 463 complaints have now been completed and the complaint upheld on 201 occasions. In a further 42 cases the complaint was resolved or withdrawn during the course of the investigation.