§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the new scheme for the organisation of Discharged Prisoners Aid Societies is now in force, and whether there has been any change in the scheme as embodied in the letter addressed to the Chairman of such societies by the Prison Commissioners on the 12th October last?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY,) Lancashire, N., BlackpoolThe actual order on the subject has not yet been issued, but the new scheme will take effect as from the 1st April, and applications for registration and certificates have already been received from more than 40 societies. No change has been made in the scheme as embodied in the Commissioners' letter.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to page 55 of Mr. Merrick's Report on Discharged Prisoners' Aid Societies, from which it appears that some of these societies pay a prisoner's fare home out of the gratuity which he has earned; and whether, inasmuch as provision is made by the Prisons Acts for defraying 155 these expenses out of public moneys, he will take steps to prevent such a disposition of the gratuities earned by prisoners?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTYes, Sir; this matter has been under consideration, and steps are being taken in the direction suggested.