HC Deb 03 July 1939 vol 349 c926
81. Rear-Admiral Beamish

asked the Home Secretary whether the governors of prisons for recidivists have been called upon for their opinions concerning the proposed abolition of corporal punishment; and, if not, will he state the reasons?

Mr. Peake

If my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the Report of the Departmental Committee on Corporal Punishment, he will see that the Committee heard evidence from a large number of prison officials, including governors, medical officers, and senior prison officers. In addition, the prison commissioners took steps to ascertain the views of prison governors as a whole and their views were submitted to and considered by the Committee.

Rear-Admiral Beamish

Is my hon. Friend aware that a good many prison governors have the impression that their opinion has not been asked?

Mr. Peake

If they have that impression, it is a totally false one, because they were asked by the prison Commissioners to give their views.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Did they consider the views of the victims?