§ SIR FREDERICK HEYGATEsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he intends to bring in a Bill this Session to consolidate the Gaols in Ireland into districts, instead of having one for each county as at present; and when the promised revision of prison dietary in Ireland will take effect?
THE EARL OF MAYO, in reply, said, he hoped that he should be able soon after the Recess to introduce a measure dealing with the whole question of County Prisons in Ireland. With regard to the dietary of the county prisons, he might mention that soon after Parliament rose in August last, a Commission of experienced medical men was appointed to inquire into that subject. The Commission consisted of Dr. Stokes, 333 one of the most eminent physicians in Ireland; Dr. Hill, one of the most experienced Poor Law Inspectors, and Dr. Burke, Superintendent of Medical Statistics in the Registrar General's Office. Those gentlemen had already made considerable progress in their inquiry, and had received replies in the great majority of cases to the elaborate queries addressed by them to the medical officers of the various gaols. They had likewise received Returns of the dietary of the unions in which the county gaols were situated, and also much valuable information respecting the dietary of the labouring classes, and the rate of wages. All this information had been carefully tabulated, and he trusted that the Commissioners would conclude their labours shortly after Christmas. As soon as their Report was received, he should be prepared to act upon it with the least possible delay.