§ COLONEL LEIGHasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether there would be any objection to make education compulsory amongst all prisoners in Prisons and Houses of Correction, except those confined for a less period than twenty days?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that in County and Borough Prisons the Act of Parliament, 28 & 29 Vict. c. 126, required provision to be made for the instruction of prisoners in reading, writing, and arithmetic out of the hours of labour, such as the justices might deem expedient. The Act did not apply to Government prisons, but the practice was in force. If there was anything wanted which could be supplied, he should be glad to receive a suggestion from the hon. and gallant Member.