§ 23. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Home Secretary whether facilities for adequate dental treatment are now available in all prisons; and whether any measures are being taken to secure that full use is made of them?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonAs regards facilities for dental treatment in prisons, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 15th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale (Dr. Morgan). My information is that generally speaking prisoners are ready to avail themselves of the facilities provided; but in considering to what extent treatment (including the provision of dentures) should be given at the expense of public funds, account must be taken of the length of the prisoner's detention. About 75 per cent. of the persons sent to prison are detained for short periods, varying from a week to two months.
§ Mr. HarveyDo not the present arrangements bear rather hardly on prisoners who have no private means? Will riot the Minister look into the matter again?
§ Mr. MorrisonIf my hon. Friend refers to the answer which I save to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale, I think he will find that the service is reasonable.
Mr. AstorIs there any truth in the allegation that prisoners with acute toothache cannot get an extraction unless they are prepared to pay 2s. 6d. from their own private funds?
§ Mr. MorrisonMy information is that that is not true.