Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is her Department's policy to provide information to prisoners and their families in the event of their transfer to another prison; and by what mechanism prisoners and their families can appeal a prison transfer.

Prison Rules require prisons to actively encourage prisoners to maintain outside contacts and meaningful family ties.

Prisoners also have a statutory entitlement to send and receive letters and are entitled to one free letter to inform someone they are being transferred. They are also given the access to make a telephone call on the day of their arrival to a new prison to inform their family of their new location if they have not been able to do so in advance. It is the prisoners’ responsibility to advise their family if they are transferring to another prison.

The prisoner can make an appeal through the complaints system and is entitled to a reply, which should provide clear reasons for their decision. If they are not satisfied with their response they can write to the Prison Ombudsman. Families can also raise any concerns directly with the Prison.