Khrushchev attempted to make the Gulag labour system less harsh, by allowing prisoners to post letters home to their families, and by allowing family members to mail clothes to prisoners, which was not allowed under Stalin.[10] When Stalin died, the Gulag was "radically reduced in size".[11] On 25 October 1956, a resolution of the CPSU declared that the existence of the Gulag labour system was "inexpedient".[12] The Gulag institution was closed by the MVD order No 020 of 25 January 1960.[13]