Questions
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many imams have been employed in HM Prison Service prisons in each year since 1997. [HL1860]
Historical information on the number of employed Muslim chaplains is not available for every year since 1997. This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only by approaching more than 140 establishments in England and Wales. There were no Muslim chaplains employed by the Prison Service in 1997. Currently there are 78 Muslim chaplains employed by the Prison Service. The only other period for which figures are available is 2006, when there were 39 Muslim chaplains employed in prisons.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many imams are employed in each HM Prison Service prison. [HL1861]
I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer I gave to the noble Baroness, Lady Warsi, on 3 March (Official Report, col. WA 143).
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many imams employed in HM Prison Service prisons have been dismissed or otherwise disciplined in each year since 1997; and what were the reasons for such action. [HL1862]
The National Offender Management Service does not hold the information centrally in the format requested. Central collation of investigations details were not established until 2000. Formal investigations would need to be examined individually to identify relevant cases.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many imams employed in HM Prison Service prisons have been investigated by the Prison Service in each year since 1997; and what were the reasons for such action. [HL1863]
According to records of disciplinary proceedings held centrally by the National Offender Management Service, one imam has been subject to formal disciplinary action, short of dismissal, since 1 January 2005. The disciplinary action was taken in 2008 following allegations of bullying from other members of staff.
In order to provide the requested information for the period before 2005, it would be necessary to carry out comprehensive data gathering and analysis across the prison estate. This would involve contacting each of the 138 prisons across the service and scrutinising case files.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many imams employed in HM Prison Service prisons are United Kingdom citizens. [HL1864]
The nationality of Prison Service staff is not recorded centrally and to obtain this information would mean approaching more than 140 establishments in England and Wales. Entitlement to work in the United Kingdom must be confirmed for all Prison Service staff, including imams.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Justice provides guidance for the hiring of prison imams; and, if so, whether they will place a copy of such guidance in the Library of the House. [HL1881]
Instructions and guidance on the appointment of chaplains, including imams, are provided in Prison Service Orders 8100 (Recruitment) and 8110 (Filling Vacancies). These orders are in website format, and so cannot readily be placed in the Library of the House. However, both can be accessed on the Prison Service's website at www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk.