§ VISCOUNT HELMSLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a recent case where a female prisoner, a few days after her release from prison, assaulted a wardress of the prison by throwing vitriol over her so as to blind her and also another woman who was sitting next to her; whether he is aware that this woman previous to her release from prison had uttered threats; what steps were taken by the police to guard against those threats being carried out; and whether he will take steps 1099 to make the purchase of vitriol more difficult.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI am aware of the case to which the noble Lord refers, and I need hardly say that it will have my most careful consideration, but while it is still awaiting trial, I am precluded from making any statement with regard to the actions of the accused, or the conduct of the police. Clause 5 of the Poisons and Pharmacy Bill, which is now under consideration in another place, proposes to put the sale of vitriol and similar substances under adequate restrictions.