§ 31. Mr. THORNEasked the Home Secretary why the Government refused to sell Pentonville Prison to the London County Council, who were going to pull the prison down as they desired the site to erect houses and flats to alleviate the problem of overcrowding in Finsbury?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe possibility of selling Pentonville Prison in order that the site may be available for housing purposes has often been considered during the last few years. It would, however, be necessary as a preliminary step to find accommodation elsewhere for the large number of prisoners now sent to Pentonville, and though several possibilities have been considered no satisfactory solution of this problem has yet been discovered.