§ Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied that the restriction on convicted prisoners to sending and receiving one letter a week is in accordance with Government policy on rehabilitation of prisoners; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what additional letters and visits he has permitted under paragraph 7 of Rule 34 of the Prison Rules 1964 to particular classes of prisoners.
§ Mr. CarlisleConvicted prisoners in England and Wales are entitled under the Prison Rules to send one letter a week at public expense and receive a reply. They may also send a further letter (and receive a reply) if they are willing to pay the cost of postage from their earnings. Prisoners in young prisoner centres and those in training prisons may send a third letter (and receive a reply) on the same basis. In addition special letters are allowed in connection with appeals and other legal proceedings and, at the Governor's discretion, for matters concerning a prisoner's welfare or that of his family.
The statutory entitlement to visits is one every four weeks for a prisoner under the age of 21 and one every eight weeks for all other convicted prisoners. Visits to prisoners in young prisoner centres are in fact allowed every two weeks and to all other classes of prisoners every four weeks.
I am writing to the hon. Member about the corresponding arrangements for women prisoners.