§ MR. ROWNTREE (Scarborough)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is against Prison Rules for a convict to receive a letter from a lady District Visitor acquainting him with the death of his child; for a chaplain to inform a prisoner that a wreath should be put on his child's grave; for a convict to have 746 a photograph of his wife and children; and, if so, whether he will have the Prison Rules altered to allow prisoners to be more readily influenced for good?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)It is not against Prison Rules for a convict to receive a letter from a lady District Visitor acquainting him with the death of his child; or for a chaplain to inform a prisoner that a wreath should be put on his child's grave. A convict would be allowed to see a photograph of his wife and children; but he would not be allowed to keep it, as no private property is allowed to be in the possession of a prisoner. I think it can be safely left to the discretion of the Governors to do what is proper and humane in connection with the family affairs of any particular convict; and I propose, during the Recess, to consider the whole question of Prison Rules.