§ 7. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the normal time taken in dealing with petitions from prisoners; and to what extent the procedure can be accelerated.
§ Mr. RentonThe time taken to deal with a prisoner's petition varies considerably according to its nature and the number of inquiries which have to be made. My right hon. Friend is considering at present whether the disposal of petitions can be accelerated.
§ Mr. HyndIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that a prisoner is not allowed to write to his Member of Parliament while his petition is in the hands of the Home Office? As it takes a very long time to deal with some petitions, a prisoner may well have served the greater part of the sentence before he receives a reply. Will not the hon. and learned Gentleman look at that aspect?
§ Mr. RentonI will consider that.