asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about granting prisoners temporary release in order to enable them to get married.

I have decided that there may be some relaxation of the practice previously followed of refusing such facilities. Governors of prisons and Borstal institutions are being instructed that in future a prisoner or Borstal inmate may, subject to certain conditions, be temporarily released in order to marry where this will prevent a child from being born illegitimate. Release, which will be for the duration of the marriage ceremony only, will be under escort, and the ceremony must be at the nearest place to the prison or Borstal institution at which it can be performed.