74. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any recent inquiry has been made by the Department into the effects of solitary confinement as a punishment?
§ Mr. BRACEI presume that by solitary confinement the hon. Member means separate or cellular confinement. There is no such thing as solitary confinement known to English law or practice. Separate or cellular confinement is the system under which prisoners work during the day in their cells, instead of in association in workrooms. It is prescribed by the Prison Rules for the initial stage of a sentence of imprisonment with hard labour, for a period of twenty-eight days. No ill-effects are known to result from the system. If such were alleged, inquiry would, of course, at once be made.
Mr. HARVEYIs the right hon-Gentleman aware that this form of punishment has been sometimes maintained for eight months at a time?
§ Mr. KINGHave there not been repeated statements that men deranged in mind have become lunatics because of this?
75. Mr. HARVEYasked when the last inquiry was made by Departmental Committee or Royal Commission into the methods of the British prison system; and whether any similar inquiry has been made into recent methods of prison reform which have been adopted in America and elsewhere?
§ Mr. BRACEThe last general inquiry of the nature indicated was made in 1895. Suggestions for the amendment of the Prison Rules are, of course, frequently under consideration, and sometimes the subject of special inquiry. The Prison Commissioners are in constant touch with recent changes in prison methods in America and elsewhere, the Chairman of the Commissioners being also President of the International Prison Commission, which met in America in 1910. His Report, on the proceedings there was presented to Parliament.