Allister Keeps Up Pressure on Ford
16 November 2011
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“There has been a suggestion in some quarters that David Ford’s plan to strip the Prison Service of its symbols and remove any reference to “Her Majesty’s Prisons” came out of the blue. I do not believe this was the case. Rather, it was clear from what the Minister said on Monday that he intended to push the proposals through without so much as taking them to the floor of the Assembly - until I exposed them.
“I have, therefore, submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Justice Department asking for copies of all information held by the DoJ relating to plans to end Northern Ireland’s prisons being called “Her Majesty’s prisons” and remove the crown from the Prison Service badge on or before 14th November 2011.
“I will also be submitting the following written questions tomorrow:
To ask the Minister for Justice what if any consultation has been conducted on any proposition to end (i) our prisons being called “Her Majesty’s prisons” and (ii) the crown being part of the symbol of the Prison Service.
To ask the Minister for Justice whether he or his officials are in receipt of any recommendations, suggestions or conclusions from the Prison Review Team other than what is contained in their published report.
To ask the Minister for Justice to give the genesis of the notion propounded by the Minister in the assembly on 14th November 2011 that symbols and name should feature in any 'end to end' review of the Prison Service and to state how and when such ideas were explored and addressed within the department.
To ask the Minister for Justice what plans exists or existed to end (i) our prisons being called “Her Majesty’s prisons” and (ii) the crown being part of the symbol of the Prison Service.
To ask the Minister for Justice to publish all documents held by his department dealing with any plans to put to end (i) our prisons being called “Her Majesty’s prisons” and (ii) the crown being part of the symbol of the Prison Service.
