§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a recent death in a prison van, and whether he will consider the propriety of abolishing or improving this method of conveyance.
§ MR. RITCHIENo death, so far as I am aware, has occurred in a prison van. I presume, however, that the hon. Member is referring to the case of James Atkin, who died in Holloway Prison on the 2nd instant. This man, who was suffering from delirium tremens, had a violent struggle with the police in the prison van while being conveyed from the police court to prison, and died in prison from syncope on the same day; but his death does not appear to have been in any way due to the construction of the van, and I see no reason for making any alteration in the present arrangements.