CAT/OP/GBR/ROSP/1 10. The Subcommittee recommends that the present report be distributed to all relevant authorities, departments and institutions, including but not limited to those to which it specifically refers. 11. The present report will remain confidential until such time as the United Kingdom decides to make it public in accordance with article 16 (2) of the Optional Protocol. The Subcommittee firmly believes that the publication of the present report would contribute positively to the prevention of torture and ill-treatment in the United Kingdom. 12. The Subcommittee recommends that the United Kingdom request the publication of the present report in accordance with article 16 (2) of the Optional Protocol. 13. In order to enhance effective regional cooperation and coherence in the prevention of torture and ill-treatment in Europe, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture strongly encourages the authorities of the United Kingdom to consider permitting the Subcommittee to exchange information contained in its report with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, or to give the Committee access to the report, irrespective of whether it is made public in accordance with article 16 (2), and to inform the Subcommittee that such access has been granted. 14. The Subcommittee draws the attention of the United Kingdom and the national preventive mechanism to the Special Fund established under the Optional Protocol (art. 26). Only recommendations contained in those Subcommittee visit reports that have been made public can form the basis of applications to the Fund, in accordance with its published criteria. 15. The Subcommittee wishes to express its gratitude to the authorities and the liaison officer for their help and assistance relating to the planning and undertaking of the visit. II. National preventive mechanism A. Background and structure of the national preventive mechanism 16. On 31 March 2009, the United Kingdom designated, through a ministerial statement to Parliament, 18 existing oversight bodies as the national preventive mechanism. In the statement, the Minister of State (Ministry of Justice) indicated that the requirements of Optional Protocol would be fulfilled in the United Kingdom by the collective action of existing inspection bodies. In December 2013 and January 2017, three other institutions were added to the mechanism, bringing the membership to a total of 21 bodies. 17. The current composition of the national preventive mechanism is as follows: (a) For England and Wales: • Care Inspectorate Wales • Care Quality Commission • Children’s Commissioner for England • Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons • Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services • Healthcare Inspectorate Wales • Independent Monitoring Boards • Independent Custody Visiting Association • Lay observers • Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (b) For Northern Ireland: • Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland 4