§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will now remove the restriction in Prison Rule 16 that prisoners undergoing solitary confinement may only have in their possession such religious books as may be approved by the Secretary of State. [HL618]
§ Lord Williams of MostynMy written reply of 7 July 1998 (Official Report, col. 125) explained that prisoners serving a punishment of cellular confinement are allowed all normal privileges (except for those incompatible with cellular confinement), unless a concurrent punishment of forfeiture of privileges has been imposed. Normal privileges include a reasonable number of personal possessions including access to a range of reading material. Where, exceptionally, reading material is withdrawn from a prisoner undergoing cellular confinement, the prisoners would nevertheless retain access to those religious books approved by the Secretary of State for use in prisons under Prison Rule 16. There are no current plans to alter the list under Prison Rule 16, but I am always ready to receive representations on the matter.