Written question asked by Joan Ruddock (Labour) on Thursday, 4 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 January 2004. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Monday, 5 January 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) that women prisoners have equal access to bail information and (b) that the information available is consistent and accurate.

Answer: Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure (a) that women prisoners have equal access to bail information and (b) that the information available is consistent and accurate. [142898] Paul Goggins: All the remand prisons in both the male and the female estate have bail information schemes through which all new remand prisoners are made aware of the help available. All female remand prisoners have equal access to bail information schemes and assistance in seeking bail. Bail information schemes provide information to courts to assist with decisions on individual prisoner's bail applications. The information provided will therefore vary from prisoner to prisoner, but in each case the information must be verified as accurate before being sent to the court.

Secondary information