§ 44. Mr. V. Yatesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons are at present engaged on making mailbags; and how many are so employed in Manchester, Winson Green, Birmingham, Pentonville, and Wandsworth prisons, respectively.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeOn 21st March this year 3,065 prisoners were employed on making or repairing mailbags. Of these 135 were at Manchester, 176 at Birmingham, 111 at Pentonville and 291 at Wandsworth.
§ Mr. YatesWould the Home Secretary not consider that this work is soul-destroying, and that in other countries alternative work with plastics is provided for prisoners? Will he consider taking some action to reduce the very serious 2350 amount of soul-destroying work given to the prisoners?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI agree entirely with the hon. Gentleman that it is important that we should not have soul-destroying work when there are other varieties of work, as there are. I am watching the matter the whole time, for I am anxious to do anything I can to see that work of as interesting nature as possible is given.