§ 84. Mr. GILLISasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the case of persons who are brought before the Sheffield Bench and remanded without bail having to be sent to the prisons at Leeds, Lincoln, Derby, etc., on account of the lack of proper cell accommodation in Sheffield; and whether he will now take whatever action is necessary to secure that a city like Sheffield shall be provided with proper cell accommodation for prisoners on remand?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Baird)Persons remanded in custody by the Sheffield magistrates for one or two days are detained in the police cells at the Central Police Offices; these cells are not suitable for detention for longer periods, but if a prisoner asks to be allowed to remain, instead of going to prison, so as to have facilities for preparing his defence, this is permitted. I am informed that there are no other police cells or other buildings suitable for remanded prisoners, but I am making further inquiries.