§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from what sources he receives complaints from prisoners regarding conditions or treatment; and approximately what proportion of these complaints would come under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
§ Mr. MellorThe majority of prisoners' complaints are received directly as petitions to the Secretary of State or indirectly through Members of Parliament, prisoners' friends, relatives or legal advisers. It is not possible to make any reliable estimate of the number which might fall within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints he has received from prisoners or from organisations concerned with prisons that hon. Members have not passed on prisoners' complaints to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
§ Mr. MellorWe have no record of having received such a complaint in an individual case.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to appoint a prison ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. MellorWe are considering the comments made on this matter in response to the report of the working group on an improved system of grievance procedures for prisoners' complaints and requests.