HL Deb 19 October 1981 vol 424 c682WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether prisoners with a complaint relating to alleged racial discrimination are allowed to commence proceedings against the prison authorities without first seeking permission from the same authorities.

Lord Belstead

Governors have been advised that any application by an inmate to a court which constitutes the institution of proceedings must be posted without delay. An inmate may write to a solicitor about a complaint against the prison authorities, provided that he has first raised the matter through internal procedures and has received a reply. This requirement is currently under review.