§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken by his Department in fulfilment of article 3.3 of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child adopted by the United Kingdom Government in December 1991.
§ Mr. Peter LloydEstablishments in the Prison Service which have responsibilities for the care and protection of children are regularly inspected by Home Office health and safety inspectors, and by HM inspectorate of prisons. Remedial action is recommended whenever they consider these necessary standards are not met. Such recommendations are taken seriously and acted upon by the Prison Service.
The three units for mothers and babies in prison have been inspected twice by the social services inspectorate, and new guidance on the management of the units has been issued based on their recommendations.
A new health and safety policy unit has been set up within the directorate of health care in Prison Service headquarters, to monitor the delivery of the Prison Service health and safety policy in all establishments, and where necessary to insist upon remedial action.