22 and 23. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state how many visits have been paid by the Prison Commissioners or officers of the Prison Commission during the past five years to prisons in other countries, apart from attendance at the international conference of prison authorities; (2) whether the opportunity afforded by the closing and depletion of many prisons during the War is being made use of to allow governors and other members of the Prison Commissioners' staff to make special investigations into new methods of prison management and to visit prisons in America and elsewhere?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)There has been no opportunity for the Prison Commissioners or their staff to undertake the special investigations in foreign countries which the hon. Member suggests. The demands made by the Army and by other war requirements both on 2238 the Commissioners and on the prison staff have been so heavy that it has been difficult to retain men enough to carry on the reduced work of the prisons, and, even if men could have been spared, the time would not have been favourable for special inquiry as to the prison systems either of America or of European countries.
Mr. HARVEYWill the right boo. and learned Gentleman answer the first part of the question as to how many visits have been paid during the last five years, which includes a period quite outside the period of the War?
§ Sir G. CAVEI think my first reply answers that. I think no such visits have been paid, apart from the conference, of which my hon. Friend is aware.
Mr. HARVEYWill the Home Secretary make arrangements that when the War is over such visits shall be paid?