§ 19. Mr. Yatesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to assist prisoners to understand the system of preventive detention; and in view of the fact that at present the overwhelming majority of such prisoners are unable to earn the full remission of their sentences even by exemplary conduct and therefore lose hope of rehabilitation, what action he proposes to take.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeA notice has been prepared, to be given to preventive detention prisoners when they enter the second stage of their sentence. It is designed to set out as clearly as possible the considerations governing selection for the third stage and consequent earlier release. Certain alterations will be made, with the same object, in the information provided on the prisoners' cell cards. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's Question on the same subject on 17th February.
§ Mr. YatesDoes not the Minister realise that, on the figures which his Department supplies, the overwhelming majority of preventive detention prisoners have a long term of imprisonment, with 2227 no chance whatever of earning full remission? If that be so, is it not a reflection on our present organisation that we do not provide the conditions to make it possible for prisoners to be rehabilitated?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeAgain, I cannot possibly accept what the hon. Gentleman says, because it is not borne out by experience. The fact is that good behaviour cannot be the only criterion for the remission of sentence. It may well be, in fact it has often so proved, that a good prisoner is a very different man when he gets out of prison. After all, these people are in prison for the protection of the public. By good conduct, preventive detention prisoners can earn a remission or, more correctly, eligibility for earlier release, of one-sixth of their sentence. That is the normal expectation. Those who are selected exceptionally for the third stage can earn one-third.