HC Deb 10 February 1944 vol 396 cc1894-5
33. Miss Rathhone

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present daily average number of young prisoners in Holloway Prison; how many of them are aged 16 and 17, respectively; what extra allowance of food is made to these young prisoners beyond the adult prison diet; how many classes are held for them and what subjects are taught; and on how many nights in the week are these young prisoners finally locked in their cells at tea-time.

Mr. H. Morrison

The daily average of women under 21 has been, during the last nine months, about 120, of whom about 50 are serving prison sentences and the remainder are persons who come in and out for short periods on remand or on committal or recall to Borstal Institutions. A separate daily average for girls of 16 or 17 cannot be given, but on 8th February there were in the prison 5 girls aged 16 awaiting removal to Approved Schools or Borstal Institutions, and 14 girls aged 17, of whom 7 were on remand and 3 awaiting removal to Borstal Institutions. I am advised that the prison diet is fully adequate for these young prisoners, but the medical officer can order extra nourishment whenever necessary. The evening arrangements have been a matter of anxiety to the Prison Commissioners and myself. Owing to the shortage of staff and the difficulty of finding suitable recruits, evening activities have had to be drastically curtailed. There is a class in toy-making and special arrangements are made from time to time to get young prisoners out of their cells, but many of them have to be locked in their cells from the time when the last meal is served, because it is impossible to find, amongst a staff which has for a long period been working very hard, persons to supervise them. Arrangements have, however, been made, which I hope will be completed in the next few days, to appoint a housemistress whose special duty will be to look after the welfare of the younger prisoners, and as soon as this appointment is made it should be practicable to make substantial improvements in the evening routine.

Miss Rathbone

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, and for this new arrangement which should prove valuable, may I ask him to bear in mind that the unsatisfactory hygienic and educational arrangements at Holloway make it very desirable either to improve arrangements or to limit as much as possible the number of young girls sent there?

Mr. Morrison

I can assure the hon. Lady that I am conscious of certain deficiencies which arise out of war circumstances, and I will do my very best to improve conditions.

Mr. Edmund Harvey

May I take it from the right hon. Gentleman's statement, that classes for these young women will be resumed under the new arrangements?

Mr. Morrison

I am not quite certain but I am very anxious to do so.

Mr. Astor

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider having the prison dietary examined by experts of the Ministry of Food to see whether it contains the necessary vitamins?

Mr. Morrison

I will look into that. I thought we had expert advice.

Mr. Sorensen

Is not the basic weakness, shortage of staff, and cannot my right hon. Friend arrange with the Minister of Labour to see whether special efforts could not be made to secure extra staff?

Mr. Morrison

That has been done and my right hon. Friend is doing his best, but he also has his difficulties, as have other Ministers.