§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to prison governors authorising the restriction of certain prisoners' special letters, including letters to Members of Parliament, to a single small sheet of paper; and what is the reason for this restriction.
§ Mr. MayhewPrison department standing orders provide that a letter to a Member of Parliament should count against the prisoner's normal allowance of letters 89W unless the governor considers that the circumstances justify a special letter. The normal allowance depends on the staff resources available at the establishment to deal with correspondence, but is a minimum of two double letter sheets each week. The amount of paper allowed for a special letter is a matter for the discretion of the Governor.