Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Faulks on 22 December 2015 (HL4639), what recent discussions they have had with the National Offender Management Service about bringing the guidance on Incentives and Earned Privileges schemes for men's prisons in line with the guidance for women's prisons set out in issue 297 of Prison Service Order 4800, which states that incentive schemes "should never be linked to any access to family visits".

Men and women prisoners have the same entitlements to visits. Both are eligible to family days where relevant, in addition to the normal visits entitlement. Prisons should not treat men and women prisoners differently with respect to visits solely on the basis of their gender.