§ 32. Mr. McENTEEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the London County Council is purchasing brushes from His Majesty's Prison Commissioners that have been made by prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs Prison; and whether he will stop the practice of selling these prison-made brushes and thus aid manufacturers in the brush-making industry and their work people in carrying on their trade?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Douglas Hacking)Since the Gladstone Committee of 1895, it has been the settled policy that prisoners shall be employed on productive work. The bulk of that work is done for Government Departments, but from time to time it is necessary in order to keep prisoners employed to undertake a small amount of other work. The amount of such work done in the brush-making shop is so very small that it can have no appreciable effect on the brush-making industry.
§ Mr. McENTEEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that workmen ordinarily engaged in the brush-making trade to-day are coming to the conclusion that if you want a job you have to go to prison to get it?