HL Deb 14 December 1989 vol 513 cc1506-8WA
Lord Gainford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their policy on the provision of prison visitors' centres.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

We believe that visitors' centres can be of considerable benefit to visitors, prisoners and staff. They are now a standard feature in the design of new establishments. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide funds to erect purpose-built centres at those existing establishments which do not already have a centre. We are keen, however, to encourage establishments to make suitable provision wherever this is possible—for example, by making use of existing accommodation. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is placing in the Library a copy of a note,Visitors' Centres: Some Guidelines For Establishments And Voluntary Organisations, which is being issued to the governors of all establishments.

We already make a regular contribution towards the running costs of five visitors' centres, and emergency grants have also been made to a further four centres in this financial year. From April next year additional funds will be available to offer similar support to new centres.