§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason inmates in prisons in England and Wales have to make application to attend religious services; and if he will make a statement. [118489]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Prison Service respects the need for all prisoners to be free to practice their religion and makes provision for prisoners to participate in worship.
That participation is voluntary so numbers can vary and are often quite high. In order, therefore, to ensure proper security arrangements are in place and access and movement is satisfactory, prisoners in some prisons are asked to make applications to attend religious services.
Such applications are not intended to compromise the prisoner's access to worship but to ensure the worship is safe and trouble free.