§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the treatment of psychological or physiological imbalances as an alternative to prison sentence or as a means of securing early release from prison for convicted sex offenders.
§ Mr. MellorI shall reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the practice for prison staff to examine and read letters which prisoners have sent to, or received from (a) hon. Members of Parliament, (b) solicitors, (c) probation officers and (d) social workers.
§ Mr. MellorCorrespondence between prisoners and Members of Parliament, probation officers and social workers is examined and read by staff in accordance with Standing Order 5, which is published and a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Correspondence with solicitors is examined and read unless it is about legal proceedings to which the prisoner is a party, in which case, in accordance with prison rule 37A(1), it may be examined but may not be read, unless the governor has reason to suppose that it contains matter not related to the proceedings.