§ 66. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the reason for building a new punishment prison at Parkhurst enclosed by high walls when the existing one was completed as recently as 1927; and what labour is being used for its construction?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)Hitherto, prisoners at Parkhurst Prison who have to be specially dealt with for prison offences, have been placed in cells attached to one of the ordinary halls. It is desirable that prisoners who are undergoing special treatment as a result of a disciplinary award should be 231 located separately from the others, and for this purpose a block of cells is now being built away from the ordinary halls. The building work is being done by inmates of the neighbouring Borstal Institution because it provides good industrial training for them. There is no foundation for a suggestion, which I have seen, that the work was given to Borstal inmates because the convicts refused to do it.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIn view of the great uneasiness felt in connection with the families of those who are affected, would the Home Secretary consider arranging for every Member of Parliament to get a copy of Mr. McCarthy's book "Walls have Mouths," so that they can understand the position?