Written question asked by Paul Stinchcombe (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 November 2003. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 November 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision is made by the Prison Service to ensure that prisons are able to fulfil their statutory duty to provide frequent and reasonable access to legal texts; how many prison libraries stock legal texts and statutes as stipulated in Prison Service Order 6710.

Answer: Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what provision is made by the Prison Service to ensure that prisons are able to fulfil their statutory duty to provide frequent and reasonable access to legal texts; [134622] (2) how many prison libraries stock legal texts and statutes as stipulated in Prison Service Order 6710. [134623] Paul Goggins: All prison libraries are required by their service level agreement to stock the texts stipulated in the libraries Prison Service Order. The Prison Service ensures that libraries comply with this requirement through the Standards Audit and through the annual review of the library service level agreement. All prison Governors must ensure that libraries obtain the stipulated publications using the capitation grant provided for this purpose.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 412 c720W; 134622;134623
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Access Disclosure of information Libraries Prisons HM Prison Service
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk