HC Deb 07 May 1931 vol 252 cc546-7
27. Mr. FREEMAN

asked the Home Secretary how many persons were put into prison last year for debt or for refusing to obey an order of a magistrate or a judge to pay a debt, in part or all of it; whether he is satisfied that the present method of treatment of prisoners for debt is satisfactory; and whether he proposes to take any steps towards its alteration?

Mr. CLYNES

The figures for 1930 are not yet available, but the figures for 1929 were given in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Ormsby-Gore) on 22nd January last. These civil process prisoners are treated under special rules, and are kept apart from other prisoners in accordance with the requirements of the Prison Act, 1898, Section 6 (3). The location of these prisoners in the same prisons as criminal prisoners has obvious disadvantages, but it is impracticable to provide for them numerous separate establishments throughout England and Wales, and if two or three establishments were set apart for this purpose, the conveyance of such persons long distances from their homes usually for short periods would involve not only great expense but also hardship to the prisoners.

Mr. FREEMAN

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion or how many of the persons imprisoned last year were totally incapable of paying their debts?

Mr. CLYNES

That point is not covered in the question.

Mr. MARLEY

Would it not be possible for these men to form themselves into limited liability companies and go into bankruptcy, and so avoid imprisonment?

Mr. FREEMAN

Will the committee which the right hon. Gentleman recently set up have power to investigate this matter?

Mr. CLYNES

I think not, but I will inquire.

Mr. BROCKWAY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that imprisonment for debt has been abolished in many continental countries, and is it not possible for the inquiry which is now being conducted to include an examination of the effect of the abolition?

Mr. CLYNES

I am well aware of the technical position of the law, but we have to consider the position of other people as well as of the debtor who is imprisoned for contempt of court.