§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish a table comparing for prisoners in Northern Ireland and Great Britain respectively: the number of letters per month at public expense; the number of visits per month; the number of parcels per month, and any other privileges where there are differences between the two systems.
§ The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Belstead)The following table relates to sentenced adult prisoners:
Number of letters per month, at public expense Number of visits per month Number of parcels per month Northern Ireland 1 as a right, 7 as a privilege 1 as a right, 3 as a privilege 4 as a privilege England & Wales 4 as a right and additional letters for special purposes 1 as a right; many prisons allow more as a privilege Governors may allow specified items, e.g. books to be handed or sent in Scotland Ditto 3 as a right in each 2 months but more allowed as a privilege Ditto The range of privileges varies depending on the purpose and the degree of security of the prison but is broadly similar in each system.