§ 12. Mr. Yatesasked the Secretary of State for War how many National Service men are at present serving sentences of detention at the corrective training establishment at Colchester; how many entered Her Majesty's Forces more than two years ago, and how many commenced their National Service three or more years ago; and what is the weekly cost of maintaining a detained soldier in this establishment.
§ Mr. HeadOne hundred and fifty-one, of whom 12 entered the Army between two and three years ago and 10 entered earlier. The weekly cost of maintaining a man in detention there is about £5.
§ Mr. YatesAt what point does the Minister consider it unwise or uneconomical to keep in the Forces men who are quite unsatisfactory, in view of the numbers not released although they have been in the Forces for four years or more? Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the time has arrived when he should not retain National Service men beyond this period?
§ Mr. HeadWe try to judge each case on its merits; but I would point out that those men who have been more than two or three years in the Army have nearly all been absent without leave for the greater part of the period.
§ 13. Mr. Yatesasked the Secretary of State for War for how many hours daily soldiers serving periods of detention at Colchester corrective training establishment are kept locked up; for how many hours they are engaged in physical training and drill; what educational facilities are provided; and on what work of a corrective nature they are employed.
§ Mr. HeadFifteen and a half hours. They do physical training for one hour and drill for two hours. Five Royal Army Educational Corps instructors carry out the educational programme. Other activities are similarly aimed at making the men better soldiers and citizens.
§ Mr. YatesIn view of the fact that these men, as the right hon. Gentleman says, are locked up for 15 hours or more, is not this position really totally unsatisfactory? Could not more staff be employed—I understand that these places are very much understaffed—to give more corrective training to prisoners? We shall otherwise turn them out bigger criminals than before.
§ Mr. HeadThe expression "locked up" is slightly misleading. These men are in huts containing about 14 men. They can play games, read books and participate in other activities in the huts. But I agree with the hon. Member that, as in the case of civilian prisons, we would like more staff. We are trying to obtain them.