§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is an inspector of prisons for Southern Nigeria; what salary he re- 881 ceives; whether his reports are received at the Colonial Office; and whether these reports indicate that no visit has been made by him to some prisons for over three years?
§ Colonel SEELYThere is an Inspector of Prisons in Southern Nigeria with a salary of £600 to £700 with duty pay (drawn locally) at the rate of £120 a year. His reports are laid before the local legislature and forwarded to the Colonial Office. The report for 1908 has not yet been received. There are 36 prisons in the country, some of which are inspected each year, and as 23 of the 36 were inspected in 1907, it would appear improbable that the remainder have not been inspected within the period named, either by the inspector or by his deputy.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any reports regarding the death-rate in prisons in Southern Nigeria have ever been published; and whether he can state what was the percentage of deaths in these prisons for 1906, 1907, and 1908 respectively?
§ Colonel SEELYReports showing the number of prisoners and the number of deaths per annum are printed and laid before the local Legislature. The latest available figures bearing on the question are:—
Total number committed to prison or in prison during 1906 12,171 Number of deaths 1906 277 Total number committed or in prison during 1907 13,827 Number of deaths 1907 322
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the number of prisoners, and how many of them died, during 1907 and 1908 in Calabar prison and Warri prison?
§ Colonel SEELYStatistics for 1908have not been received. There was an unfortunate outbreak of the infectious disease known as "beri beri" in the Calabar prison in 1907, which was only checked by transferring large numbers of the inmates elsewhere. The figures for 1907 are:—
Place Total number of prisoners. Average in prison on any particular day. Number of deaths. Calabar 1,508 463 117 Warri 978 185 14
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the difference in death-rate amongst prisoners in prisons under a different supervision from those in Southern Nigeria and in districts adjoining; and whether he would call for a Report on the subject?
§ Colonel SEELYI am not aware what is the comparison which my hon. Friend desires to make. If he will furnish me with more precise particulars I will cause inquiry to be made.