Written question asked by Priti Patel (Conservative) on Tuesday, 7 February 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 February 2012. It was answered by Crispin Blunt (Conservative) on Monday, 20 February 2012 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prisons: Discipline

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to his Department's Strategy for Victims and Witnesses, if he will consider introducing measures to enable victims of crime to be informed of the disciplinary records of offenders while in custody (a) where the offender has been subject to disciplinary action for making unauthorised contact with media outlets and (b) in all cases.

Answer: There is no specific entitlement for victims, witnesses or their families to be informed of the disciplinary records of individual prisoners. There are no plans to change this. Disciplinary hearings are not public hearings; they are undertaken in compliance with prison and young offender institution rules to maintain order in prisons.However, if a victim or witness believes there is a need for he or she to be informed of the disciplinary record of a specific prisoner he or she may request disclosure of the information. This would be considered, in the normal way, and responded to in accordance with the Ministry of Justice's obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998.Regarding the release of disciplinary records in all cases, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 712W.

Secondary information