§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons prisoners held in the special secure unit at HM prison Belmarsh have been informed that from 1 March they will not be allowed to receive books, magazines and newspapers. [17912]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 27 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Keven McNarmara, dated 28 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisoners held in the special secure unit at Belmarsh prison.Prisoners in the special secure unit (SSU) at Belmarsh will not be prevented from receiving books, newspapers and magazines from 1 March. The change in procedure from 1 March, which applies to all prisoners at Belmarsh and not just those in the SSU, involves a restriction on the volume of combustible material held by prisoners in cells, and a restriction on the source through which prisoners may acquire newspapers and magazines.These changes have been introduced to (a) reduce the risk of fire from accumulated material in cells; (b) improved security and the checking of incoming mail; and (c) speed up the distribution of publications to prisoners.Prisoners were informed of these changes on 5 February and supplied with details of an authorised newsagent with whom they can place orders. The procedures also allow for the supply of magazines or newspapers from overseas for foreign nationals.