HC Deb 21 June 1996 vol 279 cc628-9W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if computer software equipment operated by prisons under private management has to be approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [33547]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter 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. Pearson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 21 June 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about what approval is required for computer software equipment operated by prisons under private management. contractual agreements for prisons under private management have no requirement for commercial software to be approved before installation and use. with prisons in the public sector, privately managed prisons are provided with the local inmate data system (LIDS). This system is run from a central processor in each prison. No prison management is authorised to load any other software onto this central processor.