HL Deb 14 January 1985 vol 458 c856WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether prisoners in dispersal prisons in England and Wales have been allowed to send 20 Christmas cards this year, compared with 12 in previous years; whether they will extend this privilege to prisoners in all prisons in 1985 and whether they will amend Standing Order 5 accordingly; and whether they will at the same time allow prisoners to buy Christmas cards directly from recognised charities and voluntary bodies, either from their earnings or from private cash.

Lord Elton

In 1984 it was decided that prisoners in dispersal prisons would be permitted to send out up to 20 Christmas cards; previously, practice at individual dispersal prisons had varied. We are reviewing the provisions for the number of Christmas cards which inmates who are not located in dispersal prisons may send out and we shall be considering methods by which inmates may purchase cards produced by charities if they wish.