§ MR. COOPERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether no books but a Bible and Prayer Book are allowed to a prisoner committed to gaol in the second or third class during the first month of imprisonment; whether during the second month's imprisonment a second book may be obtained from the prison library, but cannot be changed during the month; whether the prisoners are deprived of all writing materials during the first month's imprisonment, and whether the writing materials supplied in the second month consist of a slate and slate pencil; and whether persons detained because they have refused to find bail come under these regulations.
§ MR. GLADSTONEPrisoners of the second division are allowed a library book and books of secular instruction, as well as devotional books, from the beginning of their sentences; those of the third division are allowed books of secular instruction and devotional books from the day of their admission, but are not allowed library books until they enter the second stage, i.e., at the end of twenty-eight days. In the second stage the library book is changed once a week, and in the third and fourth stages twice a week. All prisoners 1043 receive slates and slate pencils on admission, but are not allowed other writing materials, except for writing letters to their friends or petitions to the Home Secretary. Female prisoners in the second division have their library books changed at more frequent intervals. Unconvicted prisoners detained in default of finding sureties are, under the Prison Act, 1898, treated in accordance with the rules for the division, whether first or second, in which they are placed under the order of the Court.
§ * MR. REESWill the right hon. Gentleman arrange that the third book, in addition to the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, provided for these ladies in gaol shall be Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England."