Orders and Regulations

I beg to move amendment No. 366, in clause 123, page 83, line 2, at end insert—

‘( ) an order under section (Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: eligible complaints: general)(4),

( ) an order under section (Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: power to modify certain provisions)(1), (3) or (5),

( ) an order under section (Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: power to confer new functions),’.

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Government amendments Nos. 367 to 369.

Government new clause 61—Appointment etc. of Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints.

Government new clause 62—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: eligible complaints: general.

Government new clause 63—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: eligible complaints: specific requirements applicable to all complaints.

Government new clause 64—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: treatment of complaints.

Government new clause 65—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: report on the outcome of an investigation.

Government new clause 66—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: recommendations by Commissioner.

Government new clause 67—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: investigation of deaths.

Government new clause 68—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: reports on the outcome of a death investigation.

Government new clause 69—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: investigations requested by the Secretary of State.

Government new clause 70—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: reports on the outcome of an investigation under section (Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: investigations requested by the Secretary of State).

Government new clause 71—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: powers of Commissioner to obtain information etc..

Government new clause 72—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: exceptions etc. to Commissioner’s powers under section (Powers of Commissioner to obtain information).

Government new clause 73—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: obstruction and contempt.

Government new clause 74—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: legal and other representation.

Government new clause 75—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: disclosure of information etc..

Government new clause 76—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: disclosure prejudicial to national security or contrary to public interest.

Government new clause 77—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: offence of wrongful disclosure.

Government new clause 78—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: notification of matters of potential concern to the police or other authorities.

Government new clause 79—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: power to pay expenses.

Government new clause 80—Transitional provision: the Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

Government new clause 81—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: interpretation.

Government new clause 82—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: power to modify certain provisions.

Government new clause 83—Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: power to confer new functions.

Government new schedule 6—The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints.

Government new schedule 7—The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: complaints’ remit.

Government new schedule 8—The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: deaths remit.

Government new schedule 9—The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Prison Complaints: controlling authorities.

It is great to be back on my feet again, Mr. O’Hara, and I am going to be succinct. The purpose of these measures is to make a similar provision for Northern Ireland to the measures in part 4. Hon. Members will recall that part 4 of the Bill puts prisons and probations ombudsman on a statutory footing. The effect of the measures will be to place the office of the prisoner ombudsman for Northern Ireland on a statutory footing on very similar terms to those that we have discussed. The office holder will be known as the Northern Ireland commissioner for prisoner complaints, and his main function will be to deal with eligible complaints from prisoners, investigate deaths in custody and carry out other investigations at the request of the Secretary of State. The amendments make broadly similar provisions to those discussed, although there are some minor differences which I would be happy to deal with in detail if hon. Members are interested.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 123, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Further consideration adjourned.—[Mr. Khan.]

Adjourned accordingly at two minutes to Ten o’clock till Thursday 29 November at Nine o’clock.