Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if the Government will amend the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme classification for children's visits to parents in male prisons to make them consistent with guidelines for visits to parents in women's prisons.

We recognise the difficulties for families in maintaining contact when a parent is in prison, as well as the importance of avoiding, wherever possible, any detrimental impact on children.

All convicted prisoners are statutorily entitled to the same minimum number of social visits, that is two visits in every 28-day period. Some prisons also run family days where children of prisoners can spend time with their parent. We are currently reviewing the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme to ensure it encourages positive and responsible behaviour by prisoners whilst in custody and helps them to prepare themselves for life after prison. We will ensure that IEP is not used as a determining factor for access to family days for any prisoner, regardless of their gender.