§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance is given by his
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Numbers of police officers retiring, England and Wales, 1993–94—1997–98 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 Avon and Somerset 132 147 102 166 123 Bedfordshire 22 40 36 38 46 Cambridgeshire 39 40 54 50 48 Cheshire 67 75 55 50 81 City of London 25 23 35 26 38 Cleveland 65 58 44 38 25 Cumbria 46 48 39 46 45 Derbyshire 68 56 82 67 78 Devon & Cornwall 113 94 125 114 110 Dorset 36 41 27 51 50 Durham 64 64 41 43 49 Dyfed-Powys 44 38 36 25 24 Essex 82 81 115 90 117 Gloucestershire 44 35 33 45 56 Greater Manchester 271 285 346 319 327 Gwent 35 43 33 50 32 Hampshire 95 104 134 100 100 Hertfordshire 42 35 38 54 52 Humberside 92 68 78 52 80 Kent 126 91 93 91 90 Department to Her Majesty's prisons on the arrangements to be made to respond to requests by hon. Members to visit a prisoner; [82323]
(2) what arrangements there are for visits to prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons by hon. Members. [82324]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe arrangements are set out in Prison Standing Order 5D. Prisoners can request or consent to a visit from a Member of Parliament, upon which the Governor will produce a valid special visiting order. The Governor will also ensure that the visit does not take place within the hearing of prison staff, unless either party or security considerations demand otherwise. The Governor can also permit the Member to tape record any conversation which takes place during the visit. This, along with other special visits, including those from legal advisers and priests or ministers, does not normally count against the prisoner's allowance for visits.