§ 39. Mr. DAYasked the Home Secretary the number of female prisoners who were certified insane after their reception into prison as convicted persons for the three years to the last convenient date; and whether mental examinations are made of all convicted prisoners?
§ Sir J. SIMONAll prisoners are medically examined on reception, and this includes a special examination of a prisoner's mental condition if it appears desirable. The number of female prisoners certified insane during the last three years was 13 in 1933; 22 in 1934; and 11 in 1935.
§ Mr. DAYWould it not be better if these prisoners, certified as insane after sentence, had been thoroughly examined before sentence?
§ Mrs. TATEIn view of the fact that in many mental hospitals at present there are 300 patients to one doctor, would it not be better if these persons received adequate physical treatment for the mentally insane before we put additional work on the doctors?