HC Deb 15 July 1948 vol 453 cc1621-2

Lords Amendment: In page 46, line 42, after "treatment" insert "employment."

Mr. Younger

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This Amendment is inserted here because in another place it was thought that employment was sufficiently important to have special mention.

Lords Amendment: In page 49, line 8, to insert new Clause "H" (Amendment of Prison Act, 1865, as to introduction of prohibited articles.) For the purposes of sections thirty-seven to thirty-nine of the Prison Act, 1865 (which relate to the conveyance of prohibited articles into or out of prisons) a person shall be deemed to convey or introduce an article into a prison if he conveys it to a prisoner outside the prison, or deposits it at any place outside the prison with intent that it shall come into the possession of a prisoner.

Mr. Younger

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This Clause was inserted by the Government in order to apply the principle of Section 37 and 39 of the Prison Act, 1865, which makes it an offence to introduce tobacco and other prohibited articles into prisons, to conditions which were not contemplated when that Act was passed. Cases have occurred in which persons have left tobacco for a prisoner at a prearranged spot where the prisoners are working. Such an act is not an offence under the existing law, and in view of the extended use of prison labour outside prisons, it is necessary to make it an offence.