Archer has worked at a theatre while serving his sentence

The multimillionaire novelist is serving a four year jail term at Hollesley Bay in Suffolk for perjury and perverting the course of justice at a libel trial.

He had been due to work for the Genesis Project in Ipswich, Suffolk, run by the national charity Mencap, but was told by prison authorities that he could not take part.

A spokeswoman for the Prison Service said: "Lord Archer made an application to work for a charity as a business administrator.

Turned down

"It was turned down because in the opinion of the panel the placement would not have met the criteria of addressing specific resettlement needs."

She said prisoners at an open jail can work in the community after serving one-quarter of their sentences.

Genesis Project Manager Graham Bailey said he had agreed last autumn that Archer could work there following a request from the prison.