§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the answer given to the hon. Member for Battersea, South on 27 January 1983, Official Report, c. 489, if he will illustrate the way in which the examination and reading of prisoners' correspondence has (a) contributed to the security and good order of establishments and (b) satisfied other ordinary and reasonable requirements of prison administration.
§ Mr. MellorCorrespondence is read to the extent necessary to ensure that its contents do not contravene the restrictions set out in prison department standing order 5—a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Since these restrictions are drawn up to ensure the security and good order of establishments and the other ordinary and reasonable requirements of prison administration, this process contributes to the objectives described in the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member on 27 January 1983.—[Vol. 35, c. 489.] In addition, the physical examination of correspondence involves checking that the envelope does not contain any illicit enclosures and thus is not being used to smuggle prohibited articles, which could compromise the security and good order of establishments.