37. Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Prison Commissioners have reported that, in carrying out their arrangements for educational work in prisons, they have been prevented by financial reasons from undertaking educational work of any kind in two of His Majesty's prisons and whether he will see that provision is made in the forthcoming Estimates for such classes as the Commissioners consider desirable?
Mr. DAVIESI will see that the possibility of finding funds for the further development of educational work in prisons is thoroughly examined in connection with the Estimates for the ensuing year, but I am not confident that very much more can be done in that direction at present, in view of the pressure of many competing claims.
38. Mr. HARVEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the amount of unpaid educational work now being carried on in prisons and Borstal institutions by the help of voluntary teachers; whether he is aware that this is hampered by the lack of any financial assistance towards 1964 the cost of travelling expenses in the case of a number of teachers who are glad to offer their services without pay for this work; and whether the Government will now assist the work of the Prison Commissioners by making provision for the payment of such expenses where the prison authorities consider it desirable?
Mr. DAVIESI can assure the hon. Member that the value of the voluntary assistance which the Prison Commissioners are receiving in this way is fully recognised, and I hope that the Estimates for the ensuing financial year will make adequate provision for meeting such expenses as are referred to in the question.