§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the responsibility for funding boards of visitors and the Boards of Visitors' Secretariat. [37340]
§ Ms QuinResponsibility for funding Boards of Visitors and the Secretariat will be transferred from the Home Office to the Prison Service with effect from 1 April. There are in practice no tangible business links between the work of Boards and the core Home Office and the transfer will enable Boards to be funded appropriately. This change will in no way affect the independence of Boards. Prior to reaching a decision the Government consulted the National Advisory Council for Boards of Visitors.