§ 22. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why letters written by Cypriot prisoners in Perth Prison are subject to censorship by the Colonial Office.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThese letters, like those written by all other prisoners are subject to censorship by the Prison Governor, who is ultimately responsible to my right hon. Friend, but in deciding whether they contain objectionable matter the Governor has the benefit of advice from the Colonial Office.
§ Mr. GrimondIs not this a rather strange situation? I understand that the Governor has informed a prisoner that a letter written to that prisoner cannot be delivered because it has failed to pass censorship by the Colonial Office. Is there any legal justification for that under the 1884 legislation? Should not the authority be the Secretary of State for Scotland?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe position is as I have already stated. Letters, both inwards and outwards, are censored and subject to the rules governing prisoners' correspondence, the Prison (Scotland) Rules, 1952.