§ Earl Cathcartasked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes they intend to make in the rules governing the conduct of adjudications within prisons, and whether they have decided to accept the recommendation of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, in his report on grievance procedures, that the offences of making a false and malicious allegation against an officer and of repeatedly making groundless complaints should be abolished.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)Revised prison rules, which will be laid before the House shortly, will simplify and clarify the code of offences in the current Prison Rule 47 under which prisoners may be charged. Many of the changes are designed to give effect to the Government's response to the Prior Committee report, contained in a White Paper published in October 1986.
It has been decided, in the context of these changes, to abolish the current offences under Rule 47(12), of making a false and malicious allegation against an officer, and Rule 47(16), of repeatedly making groundless complaints. The so-called "simultaneous ventilation" rule, contained in Prison Standing Orders, is also to be abolished.