Written question asked by Kevin McNamara (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 19 November 2003. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 2003 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the procedural mechanisms are for addressing (a) general matters of prison administration and (b) expressions of concern about individual prisoners; and what mechanisms are available to monitor (i) responses and (ii) implementation.

Answer: Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the procedural mechanisms are for addressing (a) general matters of prison administration and (b) expressions of concern about individual prisoners; and what mechanisms are available to monitor (i) responses and (ii) implementation. [138709] Jane Kennedy: Concerns regarding both general matters of prison administration and concerns regarding individual prisoners can be raised with staff informally, or formally with the Governor at the monthly meeting. If possible, the Governor responds at the meeting, or the query is recorded and the response provided at the next monthly meeting, or before then if urgent. All queries are formally recorded in the minutes of the meeting. If members are not satisfied with the response they receive, or the action taken by the Governor, they can raise the matter with Prison Service Headquarters or ultimately the Secretary of State. The Boards submit an annual report to the Secretary of State each year. In the interests of openness and transparency, this report is now made available to the general public.

Secondary information