§ MR. HOPWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department. 1653 Whether he is aware that the orders for putting women to the tread wheel, crank, &c., said to have been sent to Kirkdale Gaol only, were also, to the number of 350 copies, sent to Salford Hundred Gaol, and in a few days recalled because "the standing order of the 9th September, respecting the furnishing of mattresses and pillows to plank beds modifies the rules for female prisoners," and after nearly a month's delay revised orders were substituted, omitting the provisions as to tread wheel and crank for female prisoners; whether the original draft was submitted to the Commissioners, and any copies sent to any other gaols; and, if he has any objection to lay upon the Table the Correspondence between the Visiting Justices of Lancashire, himself, and the Prison Commissioners on this and other matters relating to the prisons of the county since the coming into force of the Prisons Act?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSSir, the story detailed in the Question of the hon. and learned Member carries its own refutation on the face of it. As I stated the other day, the documents referred to were not fresh rules or orders issued for the guidance of the prison officers. They were merely abstracts of existing rules intended to be posted in the cells for the information of prisoners, in the same manner as abstracts of the Factory Acts are posted up in factories. The abstract of the rules applicable to males was submitted to the Commissioners and printed, and they directed that similar abstracts of the rules relating to females should also be printed and submitted to them. The latter were printed at the same place as the former; but by some mistake the abstracts relating to females were issued without having been sent to the Commissioners for revision. The latter abstracts were issued on Thursday and reached the prisons on Friday; and the mistake being discovered, they were recalled on the following Monday. Having been properly revised, they were finally issued in correct form on the 6th of December. If the hon. and learned Member for Stockport will call at the Home Office, the whole of the Correspondence on the subject will be at his service; but we do not think, it necessary to print it and to lay it upon the Table of the House.