Edward Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Garnier on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on (a) support for independent monitoring boards and (b) consideration of the recommendations which those boards make in their annual reports to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Dominic Raab

The Independent Monitoring Boards are supported by the IMB Secretariat, which is a small team of civil servants based in the Ministry of Justice. The Secretariat staff are involved in supporting the work of IMBs, the National Council and the IMB President, mainly through providing back-office administrative support. Funding for the IMBs is made from within the MoJ budget.

The Prisons Minister considers each report and responds directly to the Chair of the relevant Board within the agreed eight week timeframe, providing comprehensive answers to any concerns raised for the Minister or the Justice Secretary’s specific attention.