§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 June 1999,Official Report, column 28, on Wormwood Scrubs, on what date he asked Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons to re-inspect HMP Wormwood Scrubs within six months of the publication of the 1999 report on the prison. [90710]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Chief Inspector indicated in the preface to his report his intention to return to Wormwood Scrubs in six months' time. The formal request made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary for him to do so was effective from the date of his statement to the House.
§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions he and other Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the Prison Service to discuss the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on HMP Wormwood Scrubs published in 1997; and if he will make a statement. [90581]
§ Mr. George HowarthMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the Minister with responsibility for prisons, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Williams—and, until July 1998, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin)—hold regular meetings with the Director General of the Prison Service in addition to quarterly performance meetings to discuss the Prison Service's quarterly performance
204Wincrease further, leads to a prison population of 67,400 by 2006. Projections take into account known legislative and policy changes.
reports. Issues arising from the reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons are discussed at these meetings as appropriate. My right hon. and noble Friend Lord Williams also has regular meetings with other senior Prison Service officials and chairs the Prison Service Strategy Board which meets eight times a year.