§ 3 and 4 Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home 2104 Department (1) what steps are being taken to assist prisoners, while in prison, to undertake cultural activities such as writing books and for the Press and television, and to develop business activities and contacts in the outside world;
(2) if he will take steps to allow prisoners to undertake and further businesses and part-time jobs in the outside world, with a view to offsetting the costs of the prison service by remuneration from these earnings.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganPrisoners are encouraged to undertake literary and other cultural activities, but not allowed to pursue any form of business activity. The hostel scheme enables suitable prisoners to take outside employment towards the end of their sentences, and the steps my right hon. Friend is taking to make prison industries profitable will help to offset the cost of the prison service.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes my hon. Friend not agree that since a vital part of this process is to rehabilitate and readjust prisoners to outside society, every possible contact should be achieved with that society? Does he accept that in some of the instances that I have brought to his attention prisoners have felt that these contacts and training opportunities are not always available?
§ Mr. MorganThe principle of prisons over many centuries is that a person should be withdrawn from society in the hope that he will ultimately be properly rehabilitated. The question of cultural activities is a matter for the governor, in his discretion; he is the one who decides exactly what shall be done in each case. Prisoners are not allowed to profit, save in the exceptional case of the Koestler Award.