§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give his reasons in full for his refusal to allow the prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs Prison to purchase a typewriter.
§ Mr. JohnA prisoner may be allowed to use an official typewriter, if one is available, in connection with academic studies where typed papers are required, for typing literary work, and for typing legal documents where he is conducting his own appeal or defence. If, in an exceptional case, access to an official machine cannot be arranged, or does not meet a prisoner's need, he may be allowed to have a personal typewriter for these purposes. As my hon. Friend is aware, one prisoner at Wormwood Scrubs Prison 385W has recently been refused permission to have a personal typewriter because his reason for wanting it was not considered to justify exceptional treatment.