§ 1. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will circulate in HANSARD a list of the statements in the report, "Inside Story", which he has found factually inaccurate; which parts of this report he has found to be accurate; and what specific action he is taking to deal with the matters thus brought to his attention.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Henry Brooke)As the Answer is necessarily long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. DribergWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he at least agrees with one general observation in this report, that there is still far too wide a gap between the relatively enlightened policies and aims of the Home Office and their actual carrying out in administration?
§ Mr. BrookeI would put it rather differently. I would repeat what I have frequently said in the House, that there is a great deal of room for improvement in our overcrowded local prisons; but I did not find anything in the report which made suggestions for improving the situation which I have not already considered.
Following is the Answer:A large part of this report consists of expressions of opinion about the management of penal establishments and the treatment of offenders. In some cases the manner in which these are expressed is misleading, in that it is implied that conditions stated to exist at certain establishments are typical of the system as a whole. Some of the measures suggested have for some time been carried out at those establishments where it is practicable to do so; they cannot at present be carried out in most of the closed local prisons because of the difficulties caused by overcrowding, unsuitable buildings and other demands on staff.Apart from this, the report contains a number of mis-statements of fact, which appear in the following paragraphs:
- Medical: Paragraphs 2, 3, 6, 10, 14.
- Social and Mental Welfare: Paragraphs 1, 3, 5.
- Hygiene: Paragraphs 4, 8.
- Clothing: Paragraphs 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12.
- Food: Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
- Letters, etc.: Paragraph 6.
- Libraries: Paragraphs 6, 7, 8.
- Discipline: Paragraphs 4, 6.
- Supplies: Paragraphs 1, 4, 5.
- Other Matters: Paragraphs 2, 3, 7.
As I have said more than once to the House, there is much room for improvement in the present conditions in overcrowded local prisons, but I did not find anything in this report which suggested methods of improving the situation that I did not already have under consideration.