§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will reconsider the practice of asking a prisoner "what his religion is", and instead ask each prisoner whether he wishes to make a declaration that he belongs to a particular religion, so as to comply with Section 10(5) of the Prison Act 1952, which specifically uses the term "declare"; and whether, in the absence of any such declaration, they will work on the assumption that the prisoner does not belong to any religion, whatever ceremonies may have been held purporting to admit him to a particular faith as an infant.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)The noble Lord wrote to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary on 8th June about present practice in recording a prisoner's religious denomination. My right honourable friend is considering 35WA carefully the points which were raised in that letter and will reply as soon as possible. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.