§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked if an iron instrument of punishment, shaped like the figure eight, is used at Maidstone Gaol upon prisoners; if so, whether the hands of a prisoner were recently confined in this instrument for thirty-four hours, causing excruciating torture; and whether such treatment is authorised by his Department?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe figure of eight handcuff is used not as a punishment, but merely as a restraint in cases of violence in the same way as in medical cases the strait jacket is used. It is very rarely used, and only when a prisoner is specially violent and destructive. The Governor of Maidstone Prison reports that no prisoner has been so restrained at that prison for many months and that the restraint has never been continued for thirty-four hours.
Dr. HILLIERasked whether it is the intention to appoint as a prison commissioner a medical man skilled in mental disease?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLDr. Donkin, who was for several years one of the Prison Commissioners, on his retirement in February last from the post of Commissioner, was retained in the position of Medical Adviser to the Prison Board, and in that position has a voice at the meetings of the Board, and exercises his medical functions as fully as he did in his former capacity. He is specially skilled in all question of mental disease, and his expert knowledge has been of great service both to the prison administration and to the Royal Commission on the Feebleminded, of which he was a member. So long as he retains his present post the appointment of a Medical Commissioner is not considered necessary.
Dr. HILLIERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present Prime Minister, when this question came on some years ago, very strongly urged the view that there should be a competent qualified medical man placed amongst the Prison Commissioners on the Board, and that the Board should not merely be dependent on outside medical advice?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThis has already formed the subject of a Debate in this House, and I could not attempt to reply to the arguments in answer to a question.
Dr. HILLIERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department in the course of that Debate clearly intimated that it was quite probable that a further appointment would be made to the Board?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.