§ Mr. GIBBSasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the practice which has recently become prevalent of publishing in certain newspapers letters from and interviews with persons under sentence of death and persons serving other sentences; and whether, in view of the undesirability of that practice, he will, in the public interest take such steps, by legislation if necessary, to prevent its continuance?
§ Mr. McKENNAI entirely sympathise with the hon. Member in deprecating the publication in newspapers of letters from prisoners and accounts of interviews with prisoners, whether they are lying under sentence of death or not. Everything possible is done by the prison authorities to check the practice, but I doubt if the evil is so great as to justify the extreme step of prohibiting such publication by legislation.