§ 15. Sir A. V. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to carry out plastic surgery on an ear of a constituent of the hon. Member for Macclesfield, which was injured whilst the constituent was serving a term of imprisonment.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe hon. Member's constituent claims that the ear injury was the result of an accident. It was dealt with immediately, and the man concerned is now on the waiting list at the Withington Hospital, Manchester, for treatment by plastic surgery.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyIs the Under-Secretary aware that what he said is most unsatisfactory? My constituent had the unfortunate experience of losing half an ear in a brawl at Parkhurst, for which he was not responsible. As he was released from Strangeways on 8th December, is it not unfair that, having paid the price for his crime, he should now have to try to rehabilitate himself with half an ear? What are the Government proposing to do about that?
§ Mr. ReesAll I can tell the hon. Gentleman about the nature of the accident is that the prisoner reported to an officer at Parkhurst with an injured left ear on 10th December, 1968. He refused to say more about its cause than that he had fallen on an iron staircase at Parkhurst. He was dealt with medically at that time. I accept that there have been problems in obtaining follow-up treatment, but the treatment is now available.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyOn a point of order. In view of the most unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.