§ 1. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that persons in His Majesty's prisons cannot obtain dental treatment other than extractions unless they are prepared to pay for it themselves; and whether, in view of the hardships thereby caused to poor prisoners, he will consider amending the Regulations in this respect?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)No, Sir. In any case of acute pain, necessary treatment is 974 given. Apart from that, dental treatment, other than extraction, can only be given to a prisoner at the public expense if the medical officer considers that his health will be impaired by his waiting for treatment till his sentence has expired. The funds at the disposal of the Prison Commissioners will not permit of more being done in the prisons. At the Borstal Institutions regular dental treatment is provided for all the inmates.