Written question asked by Paul Stinchcombe (Labour) on Thursday, 3 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 February 2005. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Thursday, 24 February 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which department of the Prison Service advises prisons on producing information booklets for prisoners; whether the distribution of information booklets in prisons is monitored; and what guidelines have been issued concerning what information should be provided for prisoners (a) on reception and induction into prison and (b) prior to release.

Answer: Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which department of the Prison Service advises prisons on producing information booklets for prisoners; whether the distribution of information booklets in prisons is monitored; and what guidelines have been issued concerning what information should be provided for prisoners (a) on reception and induction into prison and (b) prior to release. [215295] Paul Goggins: The What Works in Prison Unit at Prison Service headquarters is responsible for the four centrally produced prisoners' information books, published in collaboration with the Prison Reform Trust. Their distribution is not monitored centrally; prisons order the books direct from Prison Service Enterprise and Supply Services, who also arrange printing. The production of local information books is left to the discretion of individual prisons and is not centrally monitored. Establishments can call upon policy leads at Prison Service headquarters for advice on specific topics. The guidance provided in Prison Service Order (PSO) 0550 on reception, PSO 0550 on prisoner induction and PSO 2300 on resettlement, which are published on the Prison Service website. Audit arrangements apply through standards based on the PSOs.

Secondary information