§ 51. Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to continue the practice of allowing Press facilities to groups of prisoners serving sentences in prison; on what principle he selects such groups; and whether he intends to extend such privilege to individual prisoners.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsNo Press facilities have been provided for prisoners. Representatives of the Press are from time to time allowed to visit prisons in order to gain first-hand information about penal conditions. With the consent of the governor they are permitted to ask prisoners about their treatment, but not to discuss other matters or to identify individuals. Prisoners are not otherwise allowed to communicate with the Press, and I do not propose to alter this practice.