Our ineffectual and inefficient prison visiting committees represent a poor use of resources which could be otherwise allocated within the prisons service. The committees should be localised, cost effective and accountable and appointments to them should be made transparently. They were established on a statutory basis a long time ago in 1925 and the only attempt to re-examine the relevant legislation was made in the Prison (Visiting Committees) Order 1972. The Minister, who has been in office for a number of months, is known for his views on the failings of the prisons service and I hope he will soon make the changes needed to create an efficient prison visiting committee system.