§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the powers of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons so that he can inspect police and court cells holding prisoners.
§ Mrs. RumboldI do not believe that it would be right to seek to extend the functions of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons to include inspections of police and court cells. I am satisfied with the existing arrangements under which Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary, in the course of his inspections of individual police forces, will take account of the standard of accommodation provided for prisoners and the general conditions in which they are held.