§ 5. Mr. Collinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why hospital patients at Her Majesty's Prison, Parkhurst, are not allowed to receive library books from the Red Cross; and in how many other prisons in the United Kingdom this privilege, when available, is denied.
§ Mr. RentonIt was decided, with the concurrence of the Red Cross, that, having regard to their resources in the area, it would be better for the Prison Commissioners to supply the hospital library direct, as they do the main prison library.
The Answer to the second part of the Question is "None, Sir".
§ Mr. CollinsDoes that Answer, in fact, mean that they are getting library books in the prison hospital, and can the hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the Red Cross has said that it could not supply them? Is not the difficulty over censorship? Could not he make sure that there are no maps of the island in the books when he restores this amenity, which, according to his Answer, is enjoyed in every prison in the country except this one? Why is it that only at Parkhurst Red Cross books are denied?
§ Mr. RentonThe local resources of the Red Cross in the Isle of Wight happen to be very limited, and, as a result of the change which has been made, prisoners in the prison hospital are in fact getting a wider choice of books than when the Red Cross was serving them.
§ Mr. CollinsIf, after visiting, the prison next week, I am able to assure the hon. and learned Gentleman that the resources are not so limited, will he then agree to restore this amenity to the prisoners?