This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26802481

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Grayling's letter to laureate defends prison book ban Grayling's letter to laureate defends prison book ban
(35 minutes later)
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has defended his policy on books being sent to prisoners in England and Wales, through an open letter sent to the poet laureate.Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has defended his policy on books being sent to prisoners in England and Wales, through an open letter sent to the poet laureate.
Poet Carol Ann Duffy protested over the ban on prisoners receiving parcels - including books - which came into force in November. Carol Ann Duffy protested over the ban on prisoners receiving parcels - including books - which came into force in November.
Mr Grayling said the ban kept prisons free of drugs and illicit materials.Mr Grayling said the ban kept prisons free of drugs and illicit materials.
But Ms Duffy said it threatened the "soul of the country".But Ms Duffy said it threatened the "soul of the country".
'Undermine''Undermine'
In his letter Mr Grayling said he had only specifically made a decision about "the availability of books in prisons" once, and that was to allow the novel Fifty Shades of Grey to be circulated in female prisons, in a bid to encourage reading.In his letter Mr Grayling said he had only specifically made a decision about "the availability of books in prisons" once, and that was to allow the novel Fifty Shades of Grey to be circulated in female prisons, in a bid to encourage reading.
He said that allowing prisoners to receive regular parcels would "put in jeopardy the efforts of prison staff to keep drugs and other illicit materials out of prisons".He said that allowing prisoners to receive regular parcels would "put in jeopardy the efforts of prison staff to keep drugs and other illicit materials out of prisons".
"The arrival of thousands of unknown parcels in our prisons each day, whether containing books, essential items or anything else, would completely undermine these efforts," he said."The arrival of thousands of unknown parcels in our prisons each day, whether containing books, essential items or anything else, would completely undermine these efforts," he said.
"It would be a logistical impossibility to check them all in the level of detail that is needed, to properly explore whether apparently innocuous items contain drugs or other illegal items.""It would be a logistical impossibility to check them all in the level of detail that is needed, to properly explore whether apparently innocuous items contain drugs or other illegal items."
CircumventCircumvent
Mr Grayling also denied he or any other ministers have made specific changes about the availability of books in prisons.Mr Grayling also denied he or any other ministers have made specific changes about the availability of books in prisons.
"Despite some reports, we have not sought to include them in a list of privilege items that have to be earned by offenders - to do so would be wholly wrong," he said."Despite some reports, we have not sought to include them in a list of privilege items that have to be earned by offenders - to do so would be wholly wrong," he said.
He went on to offer Ms Duffy an invitation to visit a prison so she could "see in more detail the scale of the smuggling" in prisons, and the attempts being made to circumvent the rules.He went on to offer Ms Duffy an invitation to visit a prison so she could "see in more detail the scale of the smuggling" in prisons, and the attempts being made to circumvent the rules.
Ms Duffy organised the protest at outside Pentonville Prison in north London on Friday which was also attended by actress Vanessa Redgrave and author Kathy Lette.Ms Duffy organised the protest at outside Pentonville Prison in north London on Friday which was also attended by actress Vanessa Redgrave and author Kathy Lette.