§ 24. Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give the House any information in connection with the manner that prisoners at Dartmoor can convey any genuine complaint to the chief commissioner of the prison?
§ Sir J. SimonThe importance of securing to every prisoner full opportunity to put any complaint before the authorities is fully recognised. The Statutory Rules 1901 provide that every request by a prisoner to see the governor, or a prison commissioner, or a member of the board of visitors, is to be reported to the governor without delay; and the governor is required to hear the applications of all prisoners who have requested to see him and to report to the commissioner or member of the board of visitors at his next visit any applications to see them. It is part of the regular duty of the commissioners, assistant commissioners and members of the board of visitors at every visit to interview prisoners who may ask to see them. Moreover every prisoner can petition the Secretary of State and then has additional opportunity to bring any complaint before the highest authority. I think, however, that the hon. Member may be referring to a simpler point, and I would add that if a prisoner wants to complain, for example, of his food when it is being served, he can complain to the officer in charge at the time, and if he still feels dissatisfied, he can ask to see the governor the next morning.
§ Mr. ShortWill the right hon. Gentleman consider, having regard to the informed and ill-informed criticism of the prison system, appointing a committee to go into the whole matter and report to this House?
§ Mr. MaclayDoes a prisoner require to give details of his complaint to junior officers before it is handed on?
§ Sir J. SimonThere are two systems that go side by side. There are cases in which the prisoner prefers to make his complaint direct to the governor or visitor, and he is entitled to do that. There are other cases where he wants to make a complaint straight away, and then he has to complain to the officer in charge. I have looked into this matter pretty closely, and while there may be room for remedy in any system, I do not think there is a great deal to complain about in this matter.
§ Mr. HoldsworthDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think it advisable to set up such a committee in view of what I consider to be the wild statements made in a book written by Macartney, and would it not allay the sort of feeling that exists?
§ Sir J. SimonI do not think I could give a decision on an important matter like that in answer to a supplementary question. I think that a candid statement of the facts as to the practice does a great deal of good.