§ SIR JOHN LUBBOCKasked the Secretary of Sate for the Home Department, Whether he is aware of the circumstances and conditions under which the Governor of Her Majesty's Prison at Maidstone is endeavouring to obtain orders for printing and bookbinding; whether this is done with the sanction and approval of Her Majesty's Government; and, whether it is part of a system which has been authorized in the prisons through out the Country?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, the authorities of Maidstone Prison might, for all he knew, be endeavouring to obtain orders for the kind of work referred to by the hon. Baronet in his Question. The practice in regard to prison work was to spread it over as many branches of labour as possible, so as not to press unduly on any particular industry of the country.