HC Deb 16 March 1905 vol 143 c192
SIR ERNEST FLOWER

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take into consideration the desirability of appointing a woman inspector charged with the special duty of inspecting the women's department in His Majesty's prisons.

*MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS

My Answer to this Question must be the same as that which was given to the hon. Member by my predecessor, the right hon. Member for Croydon, on the 31st January, 1902,† namely, that the appointment of women inspectors of prisons was fully considered on the Report of the Prisons Committee of 1895, and it was determined to meet the want by an extension of voluntary aid. There is now no prison in which women are confined without a staff of duly appointed lady visitors. The work of these lady visitors is very well and thoroughly performed under the auspices of the Lady Visitors Association, whose President is the Duchess of Bedford.