§ 19. Mr. Collinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the time and labour saved in not locking the men in their cells and in serving the meals there, he will extend the successful Norwich experiment to all local prisons.
§ Mr. RentonMy right hon. Friend is in no doubt of the success of the Norwich system, and he is anxious to introduce it as widely as possible in local prisons. It is already in force in varying degrees at Oxford, Shrewsbury and Swansea, and it is planned to introduce it at other small local prisons. My right hon. Friend hopes, too, to extend it to rather larger prisons, despite the difficulties caused by overcrowding.
§ Mr. CollinsIs the Minister aware that at one prison where it was tried, although there was an increase in the number of prisoners without any increase of staff, the prisoners could spend thirteen hours a day out of their cells, instead of five? Does not he think that it might help to speed up the development of this experiment, and help with overcrowding, if 1484 medium-rank prison officers with experience of the experiment were seconded to other prisons?
§ Mr. RentonI shall be very glad to consider that suggestion with my right hon. Friend. It may interest the hon. Gentleman to know that it is intended to introduce the system at Bedford, Canterbury, Dorchester, Gloucester and Leicester when certain practical difficulties have been overcome.