§ MR. R. N. FOWLERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in view of the verdict at a recent inquest at Chester, on a discharged prisoner, that his death had been accelerated by his dietary in gaol, the prison authorieties intend to modify the lowest scale, "No. 1," of local prison dietary, at least in the cases of prisoners working at hard labour at the same time?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, I have no reason to believe that the dietary was in fault. That dietary was settled by an order given by my Predecessor, and founded on a careful Report of a Select Committee. In this particular case the misfortune arose from an error and neglect on the part of the medical officer, and the matter is being made the subject of a searching and careful inquiry.