HC Deb 09 May 1892 vol 4 cc350-2
MR. ROWNTREE, on behalf of Mr. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what number of prisoners in Irish prisons sentenced to imprisonment after conviction on indictment were, on the 30th April, 1892, wearing prison clothes, and what number were permitted to wear their own clothes?

*MR. JACKSON

With reference to this question, I find that since the alteration was made in the prison rules in 1889, 179 prisoners have applied for, and been granted, permission to wear their own clothes. There were in the year ended 31st March, 1890, 105 applications; 31st March, 1891, 58 applications; 31st March, 1892, 14 applications; and in the month of April, 1892, two applications; making a total of 179. But by the wording of the question, the question is limited to "prisoners sentenced to imprisonment after conviction on indictment." Of such prisoners there were in custody in Irish prisons on 30th April, 1892, 471. From these prisoners only one application was received, and it was granted.

MR. TIMOTHY HEALY (Longford, N.)

Who was that one—a fraudulent stockbroker?

MR. H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if there was only one prisoner? Will the right hon. Gentleman lay the Report from the Irish Prison Commissioners before the House stating whether the relaxation in the case of this one prisoner was made on account of the nature of the crime or the social position of the prisoner?

*MR. JACKSON

I have no objection to lay the Report on the Table, but I imagine the answer would be that neither of the reasons stated by the right hon. Member was the right one.

MR. H. H. FOWLER

Then I would ask the reason why in this case the Prison Rules were relaxed?

*MR. JACKSON

The right hon. Member appears not to be aware of the Rule with respect to which relaxation is granted. I stated it at length recently. The Rule provides that permission may be granted where the Prison Commissioners are of opinion, expressed in writing, that the wearing of the prison clothes is not desirable for the purposes of health and cleanliness. I stated further that in all cases where application had been made under this Rule permission had been granted.

MR. MAC NEILL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that before the Rule was made, while the Belfast forgers were allowed to wear their own clothes when conveyed after conviction from Dublin to Derry, Irish Members imprisoned were stripped naked?

*MR. JACKSON

I do not see how the remark of the hon. Member arises out of the question. I am asked as to what has happened since the Rule has; been in force.