§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they have given the governors of prisons in England and Wales the power to appoint visiting ministers of some non-Christian faiths, but not others, against the advice of the authorities of the faiths concerned, and sometimes without any consultation. [HL121]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonResponsibility for the appointment of visiting ministers rests with the governor of each establishment. No changes have been made to the arrangements. Guidance on the recruitment process is given in the Prison Service directory and guide to religious practice, amended in 1992, and in recruitment guidance notes issued in 1994. The guidance states that in appointing a non-Christian visiting minister the governor should initially approach the local place of worship for the faith concerned, and in the case of Buddhist visiting ministers, the Buddhist organisation Angulimala. Additionally, the Prison Service has agreed that two Shia Muslim imams should be appointed as visiting ministers to the small population of Shia Muslims in prison.