asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ensure the representation of the Manchester trades council on the prison visitors boards of Her Majesty's Prison, Strangeways.

Membership of boards of visitors must include people with a wide spread of experience and background. Each member is, however, appointed on merit and not as the representative of any organisation. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to appoint a person as a representative of the Manchester trades council as such but any nominations from that trades council will be carefully considered alongside other names put forward.