HC Deb 12 April 1945 vol 409 cc1970-1
39. Mr. Driberģ

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the sanitary, washing, cooking and other arrangements at Dartmoor Prison are in accordance with the standards recommended by the Oliver Committee; and if it will be possible to organise for military prisoners there the educational facilities also recommended in the Committee's Report.

Mr. H. Morrison

The Oliver Committee was concerned only with military prisons and detention barracks. Dartmoor is a civil prison which will be used for men sentenced to penal servitude by courts-martial for military offences. I am advised however, that the sanitary and cooking arrangements at Dartmoor are at least as good as those of the most nearly comparable military prison. The question of making special arrangements to provide the military prisoners at Dartmoor with military and general education is at present being discussed by the Prison Commissioners with the War Office. Meanwhile these men will share the educational facilities already available, which include evening classes and an excellent library.

Mr. Driberģ

Is it not the inaccessibility of Dartmoor which makes it difficult to arrange lectures by visiting speakers?

Mr. Morrison

I imagine that that may be so, though we will do our best. On the other hand, it gives the men more opportunities of open-air life than they had before.

Mr. Benson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the sanitary arrangements at Dartmoor are very much below those of the ordinary "glass house"?

Mr. Morrison

I do not know.