§ 2.40 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is proposed to establish a branch of the Broadmoor Institution in Surrey; whether the proposed site is within the Green Belt area, and if so, whether they can give an assurance that approval will not be given to these proposals unless all the local authorities concerned are in agreement.]
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SIMONDS)My Lords, a protracted search has been made on behalf of the Prison Commissioners for a suitable site on which to erect an institution, as recommended in the Report of Sir Norwood East (who is the Medical Commissioner of Prisons) and the late Dr. Hubert, on The Psychological Treatment of Crime, for the care, study and treatment of selected groups of prisoners of carefully defined classes, the majority of whom would require active psychiatric treatment. The institution would be within the prison system and under the control of the Prison Commissioners. It would 797 have no connection with Broadmoor Institution, and persons who have been found insane would not be eligible for admission. A site at the disposal of the Crown near Merstham, in Surrey, within the Green Belt area, has now been brought to the notice of the Commissioners, who are in consultation with my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government on the planning aspect. The noble Earl may be assured that my right honourable friend will give fullest consideration to the representations made by the local authorities concerned.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, in thanking the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor very much for the answer which he has given, may I ask him whether Her Majesty's Government do not think it most undesirable to reserve an area of upwards of 300 acres in the North Downs reservation area for the purposes which have been indicated? Does it not seem a pity also that such an institution should be placed so closely to a densely populated area such as this? Furthermore, may I ask whether the noble and learned Lord does not think it essential that the consent of the local authorities must be forthcoming—and at present they are all unanimously opposed to it, already having four mental institutions in this area?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I have no doubt that those are amongst the points which are being brought forward by the local authorities for the consideration of my right honourable friend, and I have no doubt that he will give full weight to them.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, can the Government state whether this institution will be a prison with or without bars?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORI must ask for notice of that question.