§ 41. Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the method of transport for the conveyance of prisoners from the courts of law to the prisons.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have made inquiries, and as at present advised have no statement to make.
§ Mr. HaleDoes that mean, as I hope, that the right hon. Gentleman is thinking over the matter, and may be able to make a statement later? If that is so, I do not want to press him, but will he bear in mind that persons who are not convicted are conveyed in these out-of-date vehicles in conditions in which it is not possible for them to stand up, and in which they are subjected to a great deal of unnecessary humiliation?
§ Mr. ButlerI have examined the conveyances in question, and I know there are difficulties, but it must be remembered that prisoners committed from quarter 1391 sessions or assizes, including the Central Criminal Court, are conveyed to prison by car, coach, or van. These particular vehicles to which exception has been taken in a recent very remarkable article are kept only for certain prisoners, and they have certain points which it would be very difficult to do without. That is why I want more time to consider the matter.