HC Deb 01 May 1963 vol 676 cc124-5W
Mr. Lubbock

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the letter written by a prisoner in Wandsworth Prison to the hon. Member for Orpington was destroyed by the prison authorities.

Mr. Brooke

It was destroyed shortly after 16th March. But a copy has now come to light, which I have shown to the hon. Member. Having read this myself, I consider that it was an error of judgment to disallow the sending of the letter, and if the hon. Member would wish to accept the invitation it contained I will gladly see that the necessary arrangements are made.

Mr. Lubbock

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern the disposal of letters from prisoners which are disallowed by the governor of the prison.

Mr. Brooke

An instruction of 1st December, 1955, provides that stopped letters shall form part of the prisoner's record. This refers only to a prisoner's personal correspondence. There are no instructions governing the disposal of letters written by a prisoner on behalf of a discussion group and submitted to the governor for approval but not approved for issue.

Mr. Lubbock

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the matters which may not be included in letters written by prisoners to a Member of Parliament under existing Prison Standing Orders.

Mr. Brooke

A copy of the Standing Order, No. 5(c)-1, governing communications by prisoners with Members of Parliament is in the Library of the House. It relates to the personal correspondence of prisoners and does not apply to letters prepared by a prisoner acting as organiser of a prisoners' discussion group. Correspondence of the latter kind is necessarily subject to the governor's approval in accordance with his general responsibility for the administration of the prison and the supervision of activities within it.