§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary the nature of the Regulations controlling the writing or receiving of letters by prisoners; and whether for short-term prisoners he will consider a re-arrangement of the conditions governing visits by relatives and friends, so that the interview behind bars will be abolished and that conversations can take place in a room specially provided?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe Regulations as to writing and receiving letters are contained in the Statutory Rules 72, 75 and 76 for local prisons. All prisoners are allowed to write a letter in the first week of their imprisonment. The periods at which subsequent letters in and out are allowed, depend on the classification of the prisoner and the stage which he has reached in the Progressive Stage System. At most prisons, the greater number of visits now take place in an ordinary room. At certain large prisons, owing to the number of visits and the comparative smallness of the staff, the old-fashioned visiting boxes still have to be used; and at all prisons there are from time to time2248W individuals whose visits require special precautions. The hon. Member will find information on this subject in the Prison Commissioners' Annual Reports for 192122, page 16; and 1922–23, page 23.