Examination of Witnesses (Questions 100
- 103)
WEDNESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2000
MR FINLAY
SPRATT AND
MR JIM
SMYTH
100. Do you recruit amongst the auxiliaries?
Can auxiliaries be members of the Prison Offiers Association?
(Mr Spratt) They are members of the Prison Offiers
Association.
101. Just a last couple of quick questions,
if I can. The forthcoming review of prison legislation is being
undertaken, I am just interested in what input the Association
is making to the Review and any particular changes you are likely
to flag up on this occasion.
(Mr Spratt) We have an opportunity of an input to
prisoner's complaints and procedures, and there are certain things
we want to address on that. I also note from the last witness
about how outdated the Prison Act law is in relation to Northern
Ireland. We would welcome a review, and any contribution we can
make we are happy and prepared to do so.
102. What about the formalisation of the role
of the Prison Inspectorate, in practical terms is that going to
make a difference?
(Mr Spratt) I do not think that is going to make such
a difference, because we already have the facility of the Chief
Inspector of Prisons here in the England and Wales, so I do not
think it is going to make a big difference.
Mr Pound: Thank you.
Chairman
103. Let me see if there is any member of the
Committee who wants to ask Mr Spratt or Mr Smith anything subsequent
to what we have already asked. On behalf of the Committee can
I thank you both most warmly. It was a very pleasurable session
when we took evidence from you last time, both pleasurable and
instructive, and the same has been true today. We are very appreciative.
We are going to see the Prison Governors next week. We are a week
away from completing taking evidence, but we hope that we will
be able to pull this together fairly shortly thereafter. If we
have any supplementary questions we will come back to you in writing.
(Mr Spratt) Thank you very much for giving us the
opportunity to put our case. Thank you.
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