§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what review his Department has undertaken of the impact of imprisonment on families of prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [3285]
§ Ms Joyce QuinIn keeping with Prison Rule 31, which provides that special attention shall be paid to the maintenance of such relationships between a prisoner and his family as are desirable in the best interests of both, the Prison Service keeps under continuous review the impact of imprisonment on prisoners and their families, in a number of fora. These include the Prison Service Family Ties Consultative Group which comprises representatives from a wide spectrum of interests, including penal reform and family ties support groups.