Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department is having with HMP Dovegate on allowing family members to send handmade cards and letters to inmates.

Due to concerns about the amount of new psychoactive substances that were being sent to prisoners through incoming mail, a decision was made at Dovegate to temporarily stop shop bought and handmade cards coming into the prison. Prisoners were notified of this decision and the rationale behind it.

Cards that arrive that do not adhere to these new procedures can either be photocopied or placed in the storage to be given to the prisoner concerned at a later date.