§ MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state what changes, if any, have recently been made at the Female Convict Prison, Aylesbury, in the personnel and duties, of the staff; and, seeing that there is not now a lady superintendent among such officers, although the deputy governorship was formerly held by a lady, can he explain why this arrangement has been altered, and will he take steps to secure the appointment at this female convict prison of a lady superintendent among the chief officers.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonOwing to the very considerable decrease in the numbers of female convicts it has lately been found possible to effect a large reduction of staff at Aylesbury Prison. The office of lady superintendent has been discontinued, and a chief matron appointed in her place, and the office of deputy governor will in future be discharged by the deputy medical officer. By the economies resulting from these changes it has been made possible to appoint a trained nurse to the establishment, thus supplying a long-felt want. I do not propose to make any alteration in these arrangements.