§ 18. Mr. DONNERasked the Home Secretary what is the approximate number of ex-Borstal inmates at present serving ordinary prison sentences in His Majesty's prisons?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe information is not available in the form asked for in the question. The latest available figures are contained in the report of the Prison Commissioners for the year 1931, and show that, of 37,417 receptions into prison on conviction during 1931, there were 1,220 who had previously been detained in Borstal institutions.
§ 19. Mr. DONNERasked the Home Secretary the percentage number of ex-Borstal inmates reported as having been reformed through institutional treatment during the past year; and what period of time is allowed to elapse before the lads are included in the figure as having responded to training?
§ Sir J. GILM0URThe usual method of estimating the result of Borstal training is to ascertain how many have kept free from conflict with the law after not less than two years at liberty. The last review on this basis was made in 1930 when, of 609 persons discharged from Borstal institutions for the first time in 1928, it was found that approximately 60 per cent. of them had not been charged in court again during a period of two years. I regret that corresponding figures for 1931 and 1932 are not available.