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Prisons: Imams

Original answer

There were a total of 70 adult prisons which had one or more directly employed Muslim chaplain on 30 June 2014, representing 65% of all adult establishments. 14 establishments in the youth secure estate had one or more directly employed Muslim Chaplain on 30 June 2014, representing 93% of the establishments. This information includes both public and private sector establishments.

Access to Muslim Chaplains is more widespread than it appears from these figures. There are 393 imams employed across the prison estate, and the majority of establishments have access to Muslim Chaplains even if they don’t have a directly employed Muslim Chaplain attached to the establishment.

The answer was corrected by Andrew Selous (Conservative)

on Monday, 8 December 2014 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Corrected answer

There were a total of 70 adult prisons which had one or more directly employed Muslim chaplain on 30 June 2014, representing 65% of all adult establishments. 14 establishments in the youth secure estate had one or more directly employed Muslim Chaplain on 30 June 2014, representing 93% of the establishments. This information includes both public and private sector establishments.

Access to Muslim Chaplains is more widespread than it appears from these figures. There are 393 imams employed across the prison estate, and the majority of establishments have access to Muslim Chaplains even if they don’t have a directly employed Muslim Chaplain attached to the establishment.100 imams employed across the prison estate and additionally over 100 Muslim Chaplains appointed on a sessional basis. All prisons have multi faith chaplaincy teams to provide and enable religious and pastoral care. These teams invariably include at least one Muslim Chaplain to provide for the religious needs of the Muslim prisoners. There are however one or two prisons where it has not yet been possible to appoint a Muslim Chaplain and the Muslim Adviser is working to appoint these. Where possible, an existing Muslim Chaplain, or one of the Muslim Chaplaincy HQ Advisers, aim to lead the prayers in those prisons on an occasional basis.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

209538

Session

2014-15

Subjects

Prisons Imams

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk