HC Deb 04 June 1947 vol 438 cc190-1
47. Mrs. Braddock

asked the-Minister of Defence how many British service personnel are imprisoned in civilian prisons in this country and abroad, and what arrangements there are for supervision of conditions in those prisons abroad

Mr. Alexander

I will, with permission, circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that some of the information required is not immediately available, but I am obtaining it and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is received.

Mr. George Wallace

As the men are imprisoned for offences against the military cede, would it not be better to keep them in military establishments?

Mr. Alexander

It must not be assumed that they are all men convicted for offences against the military code.

Following is the reply:

SERVICE PERSONNEL SERVING SENTENCES IN CIVILIAN PRISONS
Figures at latest available date.
— Royal Army. Air Force. Royal Air force.
(a)Home 193* 1,085 149
(b)Abroad 69 † 1
*This figure excludes those sentenced by civil courts, the number of whom is not available.
† This information is being obtained.

In Colonial territories United Kingdom Service personnel confined in civil prisons are, generally speaking, subject to the normal prison regulations which provide for periodical visits of inspection by the civil authorities. In India, the only Servicemen in civil prisons are those sentenced for certain major crimes; the conditions in these prisons are regularly inspected by the civil authorities and, from time to time, Servicemen serving sentences are recommended for transfer to this country to complete their sentences and are so transferred. I have no information at present on arrangements for inspecting prisons in other overseas countries, but I am informed that it is unlikely that any British Servicemen are in prison there.