§ 26. Mr. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the recent disturbances at Walton Gaol, Liverpool.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerOn the afternoon of 17th April, seven of the 161 prisoners in the canvas workshop suddenly stopped work, picked up chairs and began to break windows. On being restrained they went quietly to their cells. Shortly afterwards 240 men from another shop sat down in the exercise yard. When ordered to return to the prison they did so. That evening there was some shouting and banging on cell doors, but the prison quietened down at about 11.15 p.m.
On Tuesday, 18th April, except for star prisoners and young prisoners, the men were kept in their cells. In the late afternoon 40 young prisoners in the dismantling shop downed tools. On being instructed to return to work all but two did so. The same afternoon a small fire, deliberately started, was discovered in the young prisoners' carpenters' shop. Damage was small. The police are preferring charges against one prisoner.
The seven prisoners who caused damage in the canvas shop have been remanded to the Visiting Committee; the others concerned have been punished by the Governor. Further disciplinary action will be taken if there is any recurrence of disorder. I have the whole question of discipline in prisons under review with the Prison Commissioners.
§ Mr. FletcherDoes not the Home Secretary think that these disturbances at Walton Gaol, Liverpool, following upon disturbances and riots at other prisons in various parts of the country, indicate that there is something seriously wrong with the staffing of our prisons? Is not the real remedy to increase the numbers and improve the conditions of present staffs?
§ Mr. ButlerI would not say that there is something fundamentally wrong with the staffing. In most cases it is all right. What is wrong is the overcrowding of prisons, which is really what has caused this. I have the whole matter under review, however, and I am obliged to the hon. Member for enabling me to make that public.
§ Mr. N. PannellDoes my right hon. Friend accept the possibility that his reluctance to confirm awards of corporal punishment for attacks on warders has been a contributory factor to recent outbreaks?
§ Mr. ButlerI saw something in the newspapers which was totally inaccurate on this question. I should be glad to give the figures on confirmation if my hon. Friend puts down a Question. He will find that in most cases, at any rate recently, awards have been confirmed at the request of the visiting committee.
§ Mr. V. YatesWould the right hon. Gentleman consider whether these disturbances are due to complaints about the food in these prisons, which has deteriorated in the last two years? Would he look into this and satisfy himself that it is not a contributory factor?
§ Mr. ButlerI have visited many prisons and have partaken of the food. It is one of the features of the life of a Home Secretary that he does so when he visits a prison. I do not think that in general the food is bad, but when we have had complaints we have done our best to remedy matters.