§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average distance travelled by relatives visiting inmates in training prisons at the latest available date;
(2) what is the average distance travelled by relatives visiting inmates in womens prisons at the latest available date for which figures are available;
(3) what is the average distance travelled by relatives visiting inmates in closed young offender institutions at the latest available date.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 26 May 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about the average distances travelled by relatives visiting inmates in closed young offender institutions; women's prisons; and training prisons.No information is held centrally on the distances travelled by relatives visiting inmates in these establishments. However, the National Prison Survey conducted in January and February 1991, asked prisoners who had received a visit from family or friends in the three months before interview, how far their most important visitor had had to travel to visit them. The average distance travelled by all most important visitors who were relatives visiting inmates in:
Miles Closed young offender institutions1 75 Womens prisons 62 Training prisons1 82 1 Includes visitors to both male and female prisoners.