§ 4. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the exact number of convicts who have escaped from any of the prisons under his control for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and whether he will also state what changes have been approved by him to strengthen the precautions to prevent the escape of prisoners?
The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks).I gave the hon. Member, in reply to his question of 23rd February last, figures as regards prisoners generally. If his present question refers to convicts as distinct from local prisoners, the answer is eight. It is the practice, whenever an escape occurs, to hold a careful inquiry into the circumstances, and as a result of such inquiry detailed measures of various kinds are taken.
§ Mr. DAYHave the precautions which the right hon. Gentleman said he was approving in order to strengthen the measures to prevent these escapes been put into operation?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSDifferent precautions are being put into effect in prisons; since the hon. Member addressed his previous question to me, there have been no escapes, and I hope that the precautions have been sufficient.