§ 44. Mr. GILLETTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the exact differences in treatment accorded to prisoners sentenced to periods of hard labour, ordinary imprisonment and imprisonment in the second division?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Captain Hacking)Second division prisoners are clothed in dress of a different colour, are segregated as far as possible, and are allowed a letter and a visit at the end of the first month and thereafter monthly. A prisoner sentenced to ordinary imprisonment, i.e., the third division, is allowed a letter and visit after two months, the next after a further six weeks, and thereafter monthly. In other respects, as regards diet, labour, etc., there is no difference. A prisoner sentenced to bard labour is treated like a third division prisoner except during the first fourteen days of his sentence, when he is, except for the periods of exercise, confined to his cell instead of working in association. The Governor, however, has discretion to place a prisoner at associated labour at any time if the industrial output of the prison will benefit thereby. During 1665 these 14 days a male prisoner between 16 and 60 years of age is also required to sleep without a mattress unless the medical officer orders otherwise.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs it possible for an hon. Member of this House to get a copy of those Regulations?
§ Captain HACKINGMy answer was a long one, and I think it contains all the information that is necessary to answer the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. MAXTONI am not asking about that. I am asking if it is possible for an hon. Member of this House to get a copy of the present Regulations. The prisoner gets a copy, but can an hon. Member of this House get a copy?
§ Captain HACKINGI regret that the hon. Member is so interested in the inside of the prisons, but I will see if it is possible to send him a copy.
§ Mr. GILLETTIs the Under-Secretary aware that some Justices of the Peace would be glad to have the information which he has just given to the House, and will he consider if it is possible for an opportunity to be given to Justices of getting this information by having it circulated to them if they so desire?
§ Captain HACKINGI will certainly see if that can be done. In the meantime, I would be glad if the hon. Gentleman would use his influence to get the Justices to visit the prisons in order to see exactly what is being done.