§ 56. Mr. CLEARYasked the Home Secretary whether he will set up an inquiry into the existing laws which permit imprisonment for debt?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe question of imprisonment by courts of summary jurisdiction in default of payment of fines of rates and of sums due under maintenance and affiliation orders has already been the subject of inquiry by a Departmental Committee, whose report was presented to Parliament in July last.
§ Mr. CLEARYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether on the general question of imprisonment for debt, he is prepared to initiate an inquiry without having it restricted to the particular matters mentioned?
§ Mr. GODFREY NICHOLSONIs my right hon. Friend aware that all people who have anything to do with prison administration, such as governors, consider the existing state of the law to be profoundly unsatisfactory, as it leads to the prisons being filled with large numbers of short-term prisoners who come back again and again, often in respect of the same debt, being dealt with on a sort of cat and mouse principle.
§ Sir J. GILMOURAll I can say is that the recommendations of the report are under consideration with a view to framing legislation.
§ Mr. NICHOLSONCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication of when the legislation is likely to be introduced.
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir.