§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the definition of a birthing partner within the Home Office prison regulations. [19715]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 13 March 1997]: 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. Kevin McNamara, dated 17 March 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the definition of a birthing partner within the Home Office Prison Regulations.The Prison Service has not sought to define a birthing partner outside of any definition used elsewhere. The Prison Service interprets the term birthing partner as referring to someone who will be present during the whole period of labour to provide emotional support to the mother.