HL Deb 16 December 1993 vol 550 cc134-5WA
Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the funds which were promised and set aside for a second monthly assisted visit in the Prison Service Business Plan will be spent on this reform and not diverted to other areas of Prison Service expenditure.

Earl Ferrers

Responsibility for the subject of this Question has been delegated to the Prison Service and its Director General, Mr. Derek Lewis, The Director General has, therefore, responded to the Question and his letter is given below.

Letter to Baroness David from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Derek Lewis, dated 15th December 1993

Lord Ferrers

has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the proposed extension of the Assisted Visits scheme to cover the second statutory monthly visit.

The White Paper Custody, Care and Justice included a commitment to consider extensions of the scheme as resources permit. We also have indicated in the Prison Service business plan that the extension should take place this financial year.

No final decision on this matter has been taken. It will be necessary to do so in the light of the resources available to the Prison Service. I am afraid that it is not yet possible to say when it will be possible to finance the second visit per month. You may be assured, however, that we are well aware of the need to maintain close prisoner and family ties and the importance which prisoners and their families attach to visits.