HC Deb 18 February 1897 vol 46 c724
MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether as life was taken by Warders Rogers and Coulton at Dartmoor Prison on the 24th December last, and with a view both to do justice to the warders and to satisfy the public mind, he will, in the exceptional circumstances of the case, consent to lay upon the Table a copy of the report which he has received from the visiting director of the prison, together with notes of the sworn evidence taken by him?

*SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

For the reasons which I have already given to the hon. Member I am afraid I cannot consent to lay these papers on the Table.

MR. PICKERSGILL

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Standing Order or Instruction in force in convict prisons requires that convicts convicted of felony shall be kept apart from convicts convicted of misdemeanour; and, what is the date of such Order or Instruction?

*SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

There is no Standing Order on the subject. The separation while at labour of these two classes is a long-existent practice.