§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the delays in publishing each of the reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons which have been received by him but not yet published. [14223]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons to the Secretary of State of the inspection of prison establishments generally contain much detailed information and discussion and make a number of recommendations. Before the reports are published, Ministers receive the advice of the Director General of the Prison Service on them and the Prison Service's response to their recommendations, with an indication of the action which has been or is to be taken. Action does not wait until publication of the report, but Ministers are accountable for the Prison Service and it is essential that they should be satisfied about the Prison Service response to inspection reports before they are published.
Some 25 reports have been received from Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons but have not yet been published. Fifteen of these reports have been considered by the Prison Service and by Ministers and are expected to be published during February and March. They are the reports of the inspections of the following establishments: Channings Wood, Dartmoor, Dover, Featherstone, Gloucester, Guys Marsh, Hatfield, Holloway, Lancaster Castle, Low Newton, Onley, Portland, Ranby, Risley and The Verne.
The remaining 10 reports are under consideration and will be published as soon as possible. They are the reports of the inspections of the following establishments: Acklington, Albany, Belmarsh, Chelmsford, Eastwood Park, Everthorpe, Shepton Mallet, Usk/Prescoed, Whitemoor and Wormwood Scrubs.