HC Deb 03 February 1949 vol 460 cc1831-2
34. Mr. Yates

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that four children have been born in Winson Green Prison during the past year; and if he will take steps to see that children are not in future born in prison.

Mr. Ede

The number of children born in Winson Green Prison during the last year was eleven. Under powers given by a provision of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, which came into force on 27th December, in future, if any woman asks to be allowed to have her confinement outside the prison, and if it is possible to make suitable arrangements for her to do so, her removal to a hospital or maternity home will be authorised. It is not possible to take steps to see that no children are born in prison, because there are cases where expectant mothers who have come to trust the prison doctors and nurses do not wish to be transferred to an institution outside, and it may not always be possible, in the present over-crowded state of the hospitals, to find suitable accommodation in every case. There may also be cases in which the condition of the woman's health precludes removal from prison.

Mr. Henry Usborne

How many cases are there on record, since that order was made, where a woman has asked to have her confinement outside the prison but suitable arrangements were not found possible?

Mr. Ede

The order was made only on 27th December and I have not yet had any returns dealing with it. If my hon. Friend would like that information and will put a Question down I will give him as much information as I can obtain.

Mr. Yates

Whilst I appreciate the action of my right hon. Friend, will he also bear in mind the opinion of the children who are born in prison, for there are cases from this particular prison where the facts did not come to the knowledge of the children until many years later, causing not only anxiety but complications; and, while I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's action in regard to the opinion of the parent, will he also, in considering this matter, give consideration to the feelings of the child?

Mr. Ede

I cannot give any consideration to the opinion of the unborn child. I do, however, bear in mind the fact that this may have a harmful effect in later life, although every effort is made to conceal the fact that the child was born in prison. I hope that, as a result of this order, which I made as soon as was possible after the passing of the Act, a good deal of the difficulty will be removed.

Mrs. Middleton

Will my right hon. Friend undertake to see that in all cases except those where the mother has expressed a desire to have her child whilst in prison, every step will be taken to see that the child is born outside?

Mr. Ede

I have already said so.