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Prisoners (Mps' Visits)

Volume 330: debated on Wednesday 28 April 1999

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance is given by his

Numbers of police officers retiring, England and Wales, 1993–94—1997–98
1993–941994–951995–961996–971997–98
Avon and Somerset132147102166123
Bedfordshire2240363846
Cambridgeshire3940545048
Cheshire6775555081
City of London2523352638
Cleveland6558443825
Cumbria4648394645
Derbyshire6856826778
Devon & Cornwall11394125114110
Dorset3641275150
Durham6464414349
Dyfed-Powys4438362524
Essex828111590117
Gloucestershire4435334556
Greater Manchester271285346319327
Gwent3543335032
Hampshire95104134100100
Hertfordshire4235385452
Humberside9268785280
Kent12691939190

Department to Her Majesty's prisons on the arrangements to be made to respond to requests by hon. Members to visit a prisoner; [82323]

(2) what arrangements there are for visits to prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons by hon. Members. [82324]

The arrangements are set out in Prison Standing Order 5D. Prisoners can request or consent to a visit from a Member of Parliament, upon which the Governor will produce a valid special visiting order. The Governor will also ensure that the visit does not take place within the hearing of prison staff, unless either party or security considerations demand otherwise. The Governor can also permit the Member to tape record any conversation which takes place during the visit. This, along with other special visits, including those from legal advisers and priests or ministers, does not normally count against the prisoner's allowance for visits.