§ 47 and 48. Mr. LOVAT-FRASERasked the Home Secretary (1) whether, as there are no women on the Prison Commission, he will appoint an adequate quota of women commissioners;
(2) if there are any women inspectors of prisons; and, if not, whether he will appoint such a number as are necessary for the inspection of women's prisons or women's sections of prisons?
§ Mr. CLYNESThere is no woman commissioner or inspector of prisons, and the reason why such an appointment has not been made is that women prisoners form so small a proportion of the total prison population. The daily average of women prisoners has steadily fallen from 1,604 in 1919 to 804 in 1928. The women now constitute about 7 per cent. only of the prison population.
Viscountess ASTORDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it would be wise to have a really able woman in the Home Office?