§ 38. Mr. FREEMANasked the Home Secretary the total number of prisoners who are in solitary confinement; the 1188 maximum period for any prisoner; the main causes for such treatment; and whether he is satisfied with the necessity of dealing with them in this way?
§ Mr. CLYNESSolitary confinement was abolished long ago. Further, the period of employment in separation was reduced in 1919 to 14 days and was done away with altogether by my Prison Rules of 4th April last. There is now no class of prisoner which as such is excluded from associated labour. For breaches of prison discipline, prisoners are liable to be punished by close confinement, but after the first day on promise of good behaviour are allowed one hour's exercise daily and to attend chapel on Sundays. The maximum period which may be ordered by a prison governor is three days, by visiting justices 14 days and by boards of visitors or directors of convict prisons 28 days. The modern tendency is to substitute loss of privileges for close confinement.
§ Sir A. LAMBERT WARDWill the right hon. Gentleman explain the difference between close confinement and solitary confinement?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe difference is that a person works in his own cell without being in association with the rest of the prisoners.
§ Mr. McSHANEIs the attendance at church on Sunday regarded as punitive?
§ Mr. CLYNESNo. It is regarded as something to be preferred to being kept in a cell.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYIs it not a fact that separate confinement involves confinement in a cell except for 40 minutes' exercise a day?
§ Mr. CLYNESI do not think it is quite as rigid as that, but, if my hon. Friend has representations to make, I shall be glad to receive them.
§ Mr. FREEMANIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the separate treatment of prisoners is the best method of dealing with delinquent cases?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe last words of my reply show what the tendency is, and I do not think we can improve upon that.