36. Mrs. Butlerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to remedy the difficulties in the segregation of different categories of prisoners in women's prisons at the present time.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to her Question on 12th May.
Mrs. ButlerDoes the Home Secretary appreciate that, while his proposals for the transfer of women from Holloway to other establishments are awaited with very great interest, in the meantime, women prisoners on remand in Holloway, some of them under 21, and some of whom may not subsequently be convicted, have to be shut up in their cells at 4 o'clock in the afternoon in order to keep them from contact with convicted prisoners? As the right hon. Gentleman in a previous reply to me indicated that this reorganisation scheme would not solve the problem, can he say what he is going to do to make conditions for women on remand more tolerable?
§ Mr. ButlerWe are trying to do what we can for women in Holloway. I will certainly bear in mind the hon. Lady's points in looking at future policy.
§ Miss BaconHow long will it be before the women are moved from Holloway, and how long will it be before the women in the north of England are in buildings other than those in which male prisoners are also housed?
§ Mr. ButlerIt depends on reaching the final settlement of new establishments, with which we are pressing ahead as far as we can.