§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to deny prisoners serving custodial sentences access to civil justice in matters relating to the conduct of the Prison Service unless they have first exhausted all internal grievance procedures and taken their case to the Prisons Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement. [41022]
§ Mr. HoonIt is not legally possible to interfere with a person's right of access to the civil courts solely because they are in custody. Where alternative procedures exist, however, it is in order for these to be brought to the attention of the individual.