§ 27. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of work done by prisoners in His Majesty's Prisons since 1st January, 1950.
§ Mr. EdeI regret that the information asked for is not available. Certain information relating to work done by prisoners is, however, included in the Prison Commissioners' annual report for 1949 which was published yesterday; and I am also circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the various occupations on which prisoners were engaged during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1950.
§ Mr. WilkesWill my right hon. Friend draw the attention of his colleagues to the fact that the Prison Commissioners' report shows that a very serious falling off from Government Departments has resulted in constriction of prison industries, which were being developed? The report goes on to say that there is a serious prospect of further decline in prison industries in 1951. Will he act with the Departments to see that that is reversed?
§ Mr. EdeI have been in touch with my right hon. Friends who are in charge of the appropriate Departments and I am very glad to say that I have their full sympathy and help, as far as they can give it.
§ Mr. Heathcoat AmoryCan the Home Secretary assure us that the useless and purposeless nature of the work, which, in the old days, used to be part of the curriculum, has now been eliminated? Will he also say whether the practice of outdoor work under supervision is being developed?
§ Mr. EdeYes, Sir. I am anxious to do all I can to ensure that that kind of work shall become increasingly available, because I am certain that it enables these men to get some sense of achievement from the effort they put forward, which is sometimes very difficult to get from ordinary routine prison labour.
Following is the table:
1336
*EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1950
Employment Average number of prisoners employed
MANUFACTURERS:— Assemblers 7 Bakers 86 Basketmakers 91 Bedmakers 122 Bookbinders 119 Brush and mop makers 144 Carpenters 226 Knitters 85 Knitters repairers 73 Labourers 82 Mailbag makers 2911 Mailbag repairers 1709 Matmakers, coir and rope 1129 Moulders 20 Needleworkers and dressmakers 304 Needleworkers and dressmakers repairers 36 Netmakers 13 Pickers and sorters 573 Pouch—leather workers 162 Printers 22 Sackmakers and sailmakers 74 Shoemakers 95 Shoemakers repairers 121 Smiths, fitters and tinsmiths 101 Tagmakers 42 Tailors 393 Tailors repairers 139 Twine and rope makers 6 *These figures do not include the number of prisoners undergoing vocational training (312), appellants and those awaiting trial (543), those certified unfit for labour (34), those not told off for labour (348), the sick (800), and those undergoing punishment (65).
Employment Average number of prisoners employed
MANUFACTURERS:—cont. Weavers:— Cotton and linen 115 Rugs and mats on frames and looms 38 Woollen 49 Wire fencing makers 32 Wood choppers 112 Extra-mural work for County Agricultural Executive Committees 443 Extra-mural work for private firms 34 Extra-mural work for Government Departments 181 Total 9,889 FARM:— Attending cattle, cropping, market gardening, reclaiming land, labouring, bone-pounding, etc 246 BUILDING:— Bricklayers and masons 120 Carpenters and joiners 77 Electricians 25 Labourers 611 Painters and glaziers 626 Plasterers 9 Plumbers 30 Quarrymen 22 Slaters 4 Smiths and fitters 56 Whitewashers 42 Total 1,258 DOMESTIC SERVICE:— Cleaners, jobbers and labourers 1618 Cooks 521 Gardeners 462 Hospital orderlies 85 Stokers 97 Washers 369† Total 3,l52 †Including certain washing done for other departments.
§ 28. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet given consideration to the resolution passed at a recent conference of magistrates calling for more efficient use of prison labour, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
§ Mr. EdeI am aware that a recent conference of representatives of prison and Borstal visiting committees and boards of visitors passed a resolution which expressed concern as to the efficient use of prison labour and the provision of 1337 vocational training in prisons, although the resolution has not yet been formally submitted to me, It is not possible to deal adequately with the problems involved within the compass of a reply to a Parliamentary Question, but I am hopeful that recent inter-departmental discussions will result in an increased number of orders for the products of prison labour. Opportunities for vocational training are available, or will shortly be made available, in all the training prisons.
§ Mr. DoddsDoes not my right hon. Friend think that it would be much more desirable if a system were adopted by which these men would do more for their keep than they are doing at present?
§ Mr. EdeI can assure my hon. Friend that I do all I can to encourage them to do more for their keep, but some of them do not appear to be very responsive. I therefore welcome every opportunity that can be afforded of providing them with work in which they can be expected to he interested.
§ Mr. AwberyWill my right hon. Friend consider introducing legislation to make labour in prison a contract of service, so that a man will receive an insurance stamp, will be governed by the Industrial Injuries Act, and will not be penalised a second time after leaving prison?
§ Mr. Niall MacphersonWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is at least one part of our economy, where the Government has not secured full employment?