Visiting Committees, made up of unpaid volunteers, carry out unannounced visits to prisons to monitor conditions and deal with prisoner complaints.

BBC: Prison Visiting Committees debate

Mr Macdonald said "Councillor Jim Kiddie, the convener of Aberdeen Prison Visiting Committee, told the Evening Express on Tuesday that there are SNP councillors on prison visiting committees who are extremely dismayed at the Justice Secretary's decision".

BBC: Prison Visiting Committees debate

Americans interested in visiting Cuba are offered free CDs of Cuban music and itineraries that include welcome parties thrown by Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, neighborhood watch groups that were created with the original intention of thwarting a U.S. invasion.

CNN: Eased travel to Cuba not without hurdles