41. Major THOMASasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to deal with the increasing number of disturbances which are taking place in the prisons throughout the country?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)I am not aware of any foundation for the suggestion in my hon. and gallant Friend's question that the number of disturbances in prisons is increasing. Since the disorder at Dartmoor last January there have been, apart from minor offences against discipline, four cases of assault on prison officers by individual prisoners, one case in which a prisoner was found guilty of incitement to mutiny, and two occasions on which a number of prisoners created a disturbance by shouting. Suitable disciplinary action has been taken in these cases, and it is my intention that all necessary steps shall be taken for the prevention of disorder and the maintenance of good discipline within His Majesty's prisons.