HC Deb 11 April 1889 vol 335 cc217-9
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can now communicate the names of the Commissioners to inquire into prison treatment, and the terms of the directions upon which they are to act; whether he will state what operation the new rules are intended to have, and what instructions have been or are to be given to the prison officers to guide them in the administration of these rules; and whether any rule will be framed to modify the existing prison regulations in regard to the obligation to perform certain menial tasks?

*MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I greatly regret that I cannot, even yet, give a full answer to the right hon. Gentleman with regard to the names of the Commissioners; but I have the satisfaction of being able to announce that just before coming to the House I heard that Lord Aberdare has accepted the Chairmanship. The general object of the new rules is to revert to the original intentions of Parliament with regard to prison dress and hair clipping, and to restrict compulsion on these points to eases where sanitary considerations make their imposition necessary or desirable. No distinction will be made between different classes of offences, nor will any change be made in that part of prison discipline which is intended to be punitive in its effects. With regard to the last paragraph, I understand that under the existing law any non-hard labour prisoner who is prepared to pay the cost of his own food may avoid the work to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

MR. SEXTON

asked what the number of the contemplated Commissioners would be?

*MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said the Commissioners would consist of five Members, Lord Aberdare being Chairman, and there being three Representatives of the English, Scotch, and Irish Prisons Board. The fifth Member had not yet been chosen.

MR. FLYNN

The right hon. Gentleman said in answer to a question from me that the Commission would consist of others besides Members of the Prison Boards.

*MR. A. J. BALFOUR

What the hon. Member asked me was whether nobody, other than those connected with the Irish Prisons Department, would be selected, and, as I said in reply, that has not been the case. There will only be one Representative of the Irish Prisons Department.

MR. SEXTON

Will the Commission consist of persons interested in carrying out the Prison Rules?

*MR. A, J. BALFOUR

It will be, necessary to have official knowledge on the Commission.