§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the rules on possession of fountain pens by prisoners are uniform throughout Her Majesty's prisons.
§ Mr. John PattenPrison standing order 4 includes pens in the list of items which prisoners may normally retain in their possession. The standing order does not distinguish between different types of pen and the extent to which any local restrictions may need to be imposed in this respect 119W is a matter for the governor to determine in the light of his responsibilities for the security and good order of his establishment.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list all those prisons which provide (a) one set of clean clothes per week, (b) two sets of clean clothes per week or (c) more than two sets of clean clothes per week.
§ Mr. John PattenThe scales of issue of personal clothing to prisoners provide for at least two sets per week. Some prisons are able to provide for more frequent changes within those scales, and frequency is varied from time to time depending on local circumstances. Full details of the practices in each prison are not kept centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make all educational correspondence courses free of postal charges for prisoners.
§ Mr. John PattenWhere approval has been given for a prisoner to follow a correspondence course, it is normal practice for the postal costs to be met from public funds.