§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has concluded his review of the guidance PSO 440, relating to visits by close relatives to prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [86859]
§ Hilary BennIt is assumed that the hon. member is referring to Prison Service Order (PSO) 4400 and not 440 as set out in the question. The Prison Service is reviewing its child protection measures as set out in PSO 4400 as part of an overall long-term review of the management of dangerous offenders. A new Prison Service Instruction on public protection is likely to be complete in late summer 2003. There are no plans to abandon the policy disallowing visits to child sex offenders by children other than close relatives.