§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and in what form he intends to publish his proposals in relation to part-time custody. [40004]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 5 March 2002]: Intermittent custody (part time custody) is being worked up as part of the package of sentencing reforms currently being considered by the Government in response to the "Making Punishments Work" report written by John Halliday. My intention is to publish a White Paper later this year.
§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) independent custody visitors' groups and (b) lay observers' panels published their annual reports in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [40003]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 5 March 2002]: Information about the number of independent (police) custody groups publishing annual reports in the last year is not kept centrally. However, each police authority's annual report should contain a reference to independent custody visiting within the relevant area.
There are eight (prisoner escort) lay observers panels in England and Wales and all of them have published their annual reports in the last year.
§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring boards of visitors, lay observers and independent custody visitors under a single umbrella organisation; and if he will make a statement. [40010]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 5 March 2002]: There are no plans at present.