Written question asked by Stephen Pound (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 December 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 December 2006. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Monday, 18 December 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Prison Service

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which places of detention on the prison estate have (a) seconded, (b) designated and (c) appointed a (i) full-time and (ii) part-time foreign national prisoner co-ordinator or equivalent post; and which foreign national prisoner co-ordinators are available to non-governmental organisations working on prisoner welfare matters.

Answer: As of July 2006,108 public sector prisons and nine contracted prisons in England and Wales had a member of staff assigned to the role of foreign national co-ordinator. The number of hours spent on this role will depend on the number of foreign national prisoners in the establishment but is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Foreign national co-ordinators carry out the duties and functions of the prison in respect, but they will liaise and work with non-governmental organisation wherever possible and appropriate.

Secondary information