HL Deb 07 June 1982 vol 431 c90WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether foreign prisoners have the right to an interpreter in proceedings before a board of visitors.

Lord Elton

Prison Rule 49(2) provides that at an inquiry into a charge against a prisoner he shall be given full opportunity of hearing what is alleged against him and of presenting his own case. Where a prisoner has difficulty in understanding English he is given assistance, whether by members of the adjudicating panel, prison staff, other inmates or an interpreter, to enable him to participate in the proceedings.