HC Deb 17 February 1966 vol 724 c290W
79. Mr. Garrett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the Prison Regulations concerning the necessity of pregnancy before consent is given to the marriage of a person in custody in Her Majesty's Prison.

Miss Bacon

Under existing policy a prisoner may be temporarily released to marry only if this will enable the prisoner's child, already conceived, to be born in wedlock, or will legitimise a prisoner's child already born. In those cases the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration, and my right hon. Friend is not convinced that in present circumstances he would be justified in allowing prisoners to marry other than for these reasons.