§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance he gives to enable the wives of Bedford prisoners to visit their husbands when they are kept in prisons many miles away; and why more are not kept in Her Majesty's Prison, Bedford.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganIf the wife of any prisoner is receiving regular payments of supplementary benefit, or if she is not working full time and her resources are not much above the level that would make her eligible for such payments, the Supplementary Benefits Commission will help her to meet the cost of visiting her husband in prison once every two months. Other help may be arranged, in 107W appropriate cases, by prison welfare officers, in conjunction with the local Probation and After-Care Service or voluntary organisations.
Bedford Prison is an overcrowded local prison. It is necessary to transfer some prisoners to reduce overcrowding and others to conditions more suitable to their needs.