§ 18. Mr. John Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for War how many times per annum inspecting officers are sent down to the principal detention branches?
§ The Secretary of State for War (Sir James Grigg)An officer, usually not below field rank, is detailed weekly by the general officer commanding or the officer commanding the station as visitor of the detention barracks or military prison. He sees all men under sentence and inquires into any complaints they may have. He reports direct to the officer by whom he was detailed to carry out this duty. The Inspector of Military Prisons and Detention Barracks is on tour throughout the year. He reports to the War Office. Inspections are also carried out by other officers from Command headquarters and from the departments concerned in the War Office.
§ Mr. DugdaleAre these inspections made at irregular intervals, such as those made by Home Office inspectors of our prisons?
§ Sir J. GriggI cannot give a firm answer without notice, but I should imagine that they do not occur at regular intervals.
§ Mr. BellengerIs my right hon. Friend aware that this is a most unsatisfactory method of gathering prisoners' complaints, as very few prisoners would take the opportunity of the inspecting officer's visits to make complaints to him?
§ 19. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for War how many times per week officers commanding detention barracks visit each section of their barracks?
§ Sir J. GriggAs far as it is practicable officers commanding detention barracks visit the whole of their detention barrack or prison and see every soldier under sentence at least once in 24 hours.