§ 11. Mr. H. Leverasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement upon the recent break-out from Her Majesty's Prison, Strangeways, Manchester; and what consideration is being given to the working conditions of the prison officers engaged at the prison.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeOn 6th November, six prisoners escaped from Manchester Prison through a skylight above the stairs leading from the shop where they had been working. Five have since been recaptured. Following an inquiry into the circumstances of the escape held by an Assistant Commissioner of Prisons, a prison officer has been dealt with on a discipline charge, and the prison Governor has been instructed as to the conditions of security under which long-sentence prisoners in a local prison are to be employed.
The possibilities of increasing the physical security of the prison in certain respects are being studied. There is no reason to suppose that this escape was connected in any way with the working conditions of the prison staff; these are constantly under review by the Prison Commissioners.
§ 12. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 25 prisoners who escaped from Strangeways Prison, Manchester, between 1945 and 18th November, 1954, and who were serving sentences of over 1093 three years, had served more than 12 months of their sentences before they escaped.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeFour, one of whom escaped twice.
§ 13. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners now in Strangeways Prison, Manchester, are serving sentences of over three years; and how many of these have already served more than 12 months of their sentences.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThe answer to the first part of the Question is 190 men and three women, and to the second part 113 men and one woman.
§ Mr. JohnsonDoes my right hon. and gallant Friend not agree that it is very disquieting that these long-term prisoners should be kept in a local prison for more than 12 months, and is he in a position to hold out any hope that this state of affairs will be improved?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeAs it happens, this has no connection with the number of escapes, but the retention of long-term prisoners for a considerable time in local prisons is unsatisfactory, and we are trying to improve the position as soon as we can.
§ Mr. AwberyWill the Minister give consideration to releasing on parole men who have served a prison sentence of 12 months, if it is their first sentence? Would not this give such men an opportunity of retrieving his position, and at the same time relieve overcrowding in our prisons. Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider these two matters?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI will certainly consider any suggestions, but the hon. Gentleman knows there are various methods of dealing with offenders, as, for instance, the special treatment given to first offenders.