Question reference: S4W-09744
- Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 19 September 2012
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Current status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 October 2012
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the draft order relating to the reform of prison visiting committees.
Answer
I announced on 13 December my decision to ask Professor Andrew Coyle (Emeritus Professor of Prison Studies in London University and Visiting Professor in the University of Essex) formally to review the Scottish Government’s proposals on independent monitoring of prisons. Professor Coyle will produce a report on his findings and recommendations by 31 January 2013. The remit of the review will be to consider specifically:
the extent to which the proposals meet the government’s obligations under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture (OPCAT)
responses of prisoners, prison staff and stakeholders to the new proposals
independent monitoring of legalised police cells.
I informed the Parliament by responding to a parliamentary question, from John Finnie MSP on 13 September 2012 – (S4W-09606). All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.