Written question asked by Peter Luff (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 April 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 May 1998. It was answered by Baroness Quin (Labour) on Monday, 11 May 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will discuss with the Lord Chancellor the possibility of denying prisoners serving custodial sentences access to civil justice in matters relating to the conduct of the Prison Service unless they have first exhausted all internal grievance procedures and taken their case to the Prisons Ombudsman. - Includes ref to 310 c515-6W dated 20 April 1998 and 311 c367W dated 5 May 1998.

Answer: Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with the Lord Chancellor the possibility of denying prisoners serving custodial sentences access to civil justice in matters relating to the conduct of the Prison Service unless they have first exhausted all internal grievance procedures and taken their case to the Prisons Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement. [41023] Ms Quin: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to him on 20 April 1998, Official Report, columns 515-16, and 5 May 1998, Official Report, column 367. I shall ask Prison Service officials to advise on prisoners' access to civil justice generally at the same time as advising on their use of small claims court procedures.

Secondary information