HC Deb 05 June 1924 vol 174 cc1430-1
11. Mr. J. GARDNER

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that Principal Officer Hamby and Officer Wheeler were dismissed from the service at Wormwood Scrubs Prison for securing their sons employment through the friends of Horatio Bottomley; that the two officials had good records: and that they had nothing to do with smuggling the articles out of the prison to the Press; and, in view of the fact that special facilities were given to the prisoner Bottomley to keep a diary and write articles, which articles were smuggled out of Maidstone and not Wormwood Scrubs prison by a private individual, will he have further inquiry made into the case of these dismissed officials?

Mr. HENDERSON

These two officers were dismissed for carrying on unauthorised communications with a prisoner's friends, and the other points do not, therefore, arise.

Mr. GARDNER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that none of the other persons involved was punished, not even the prisoner Bottomley himself?

Mr. HAYES

Has any inquiry been instituted as to how the documents were obtained from the prison, seeing that as a matter of fact these documents came from another prison and not from the one at which these officers were employed?

Mr. HENDERSON

I must ask for notice of that question.