§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Commission appointed by the Governor of Jamaica to inquire into the system of prison administration in that Colony, with special reference to the disturbances which have recently taken place in the Kingston Penitentiary, has yet made a Report; whether such Report will be laid upon the Table of the House, and what action he proposes to take in regard to it; whether prisons in this and other similar Colonies are under the general control of the Secretary of State; and whether he can say how many prisoners at Kingston Penitentiary were flogged during the three months ended 30th September, 1926, and the number during the corresponding period for 1925?
§ Mr. AMERYI understand that the Commission to which the hon. Member refers has completed its labours. Copies of its Report have not vet reached me, but when they arrive I shall be prepared to make them available for Members. The Secretary of State does not exercise 37W any direct control over prisons in the Colonies, but it is open to him to give instructions to the Governors within any limitations imposed by law. Figures showing the number of prisoners flogged at the Kingston Penitentiary during the three months ended the 30th September, 1925, are not available separately, but the number flogged in all the prisons during the whole of 1925 was six. Two serious disturbances occurred at the Kingston Penitentiary during the corresponding quarter of 1926, and, although the number of prisoners flogged has not been reported officially, it is understood from unofficial information to be about 160.