23. Mr. Astorasked the Home Secretary how many prisoners have been trained under Ministry of Labour and National Service training schemes during their sentences; and what measures of success have these schemes achieved?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonTraining schemes in engineering fitting have been started at three prisons and some 150 men have now been trained. These classes are not organised by the Ministry of Labour and National Service, but on release the men have all been placed in skilled work with the co-operation of the Ministry. Only one man has failed to make good, and the scheme can, I think, be regarded as most successful.
Mr. AstorAre these prisoners getting paid for work, according to the experiment which was started with some success before the war?
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, they are paid the ordinary and very modest sums which prisoners get for working.
§ Mr. Edmund HarveyIn view of the remarkable success of these training schemes, will my right hon. Friend take steps to see that they are extended and continued in peace-time?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am most anxious that that shall be done, although we may get up against certain interests when we do it; but really the system has been remarkably successful, and I think the Prison Commissioners are to be warmly congratulated on the efforts they have made. I hope very much this system can continue in peace-time.