§ 43 Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether following the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Prison Administration in Jamaica, a new director of prisons and a new superintendent of the Kingston general penitentiary have been appointed; and whether he will give the House the names and qualifications of the officials appointed;
(2) whether steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Prison Administration in Jamaica regarding the 29 hours of labour and the revision of the scale of diet in Kingston general penitentiary;
(3) what is the number of cells in use at Kingston general penitentiary; and what has been the average daily population of the prison during the last six months?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo permanent appointment has yet been made to the post of Director of Prisons. The vacancy for a Superintendent has been provisionally filled by an officer who, after 14 years' exemplary service in the Army, spent six years in the English Prison Service, with excellent reports, before proceeding to Jamaica in 1926. Writing early in this year, the Governor of Jamaica reported that the adoption of longer hours of labour, as recommended by the Commission, would be undertaken as soon as arrangements had been made for the necessary addition to the staff of prison warders. The Governor was advised that pending an increase in the hours worked, the existing scales of diet were adequate. As regards the hon. Member's third question, information relating to the last six months has not yet reached me. On the 31st December, 1926, the numbers in the general penitentiary was 662, and each prisoner was accommodated in a separate cell.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEIs there any objection to giving the House the name of the gentleman appointed, and, with regard to the other part of the reply, do I understand that the Governor has decided upon this scale of diet? Is it not a question of carrying out the recommendations of the Commission?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI will make inquiries about publishing the name of the man now in charge. I gather that the Governor was advised by the medical officer attending the hospital that while reorganisation was going on in the penitentiary, it was inadvisable to make the change. As soon as they are made, and the changes in the hours of labour recommended are put into force, then the changes will be made.