§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the restrictions imposed on the numbers of personal letters allowed to be received by any one prisoner and the reasons for any such restrictions.
§ Mr. MellorRestrictions are imposed on the number of letters prisoners may send and receive becaue staff have to be made available to examine and read them. Convicted prisoners are allowed to send each week at least one letter at public expense and one at their own expense. Governors are instructed to allow additional letters as local staff resources permit. Governors also have discretion to grant individual prisoners additional letters in special circumstances; the details are set out in standing order 5, a copy440W of which is in the Library of the House. Convicted prisoners are generally allowed to receive as many letters as they send. There are no limits on the number of letters unconvicted prisoners may send and receive.