§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the procedure which has to be followed by any person or organisation wishing to film an interview with a convicted prisoner(a) for 199W research purposes, (b) for other private purposes and (c) for publication or broadcast; and at what level the decision is taken in each case.
§ Mr. Peter LloydRequests to interview a prisoner must be made to the governor of the holding prison or the public relations branch of the Home Office. Applications from the media must be made in writing giving details of the requirements of the interviewer and the justification for the interview to take place.
If the interview is allowed to take place for research purposes or private purposes, a signed undertaking is required that none of the material gathered will be used in any publication or broadcast. Requests for interview for the purposes of publication or broadcast are considered by the public relations branch in conjunction with officials or governors, and where necessary after consultation with Ministers.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who gave permission for the filming of an interview with Dennis Nilsen which was subsequently broadcast on television;
(2) to whom permission was given for the filming of the Nilsen interview; what were the terms of the written request for permission; and what written conditions were placed on the permission granted.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on Tuesday 2 February.