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<p> </p><p> </p><p>There have always been controls on the sending of parcels into
prisons, and allowing parcels to be sent in unrestricted would be operationally unmanageable
and would lead to a significant risk of drugs and other illicit items being smuggled
into prisons.</p><p> </p><p>We have always recognised the importance of reading and
literature in the rehabilitative process, and the positive effects this has on prisoners'
welfare. The National Offender Management Service works closely with schemes such
as the Shannon Trust reading network, which includes peer mentoring to improve reading
levels.</p><p> </p><p>The Howard League for Penal Reform, English PEN and Liberty
have made representations concerning prisoner access to books. There have been no
changes in the availability of books in prisons. Every prison has a library, to which
every prisoner has access. Up to 12 books may be held by prisoners in their cell at
any one time and additional volumes may be stored locally at the prison.</p>
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