Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Tuesday, 31 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 2 November 2006. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 November 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Amnesty International (Prison Inspections)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inspections Amnesty International have made of conditions in British prisons in each of the last five years; and what the (a) duration and (b) nature was of each such visit.

Answer: There is no record of any centrally arranged visits by Amnesty International to any prison in England and Wales in the last five years, nor have any reports on such visits been received. HM Inspectorate of Prisons conducts regular inspections of all prisons in England and Wales and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture also has the right to enter and inspect prisons in the UK. Amnesty International does not carry out inspections of prisons in England and Wales.

Secondary information