HC Deb 18 April 1928 vol 216 cc197-9W
Mr. BRIANT

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements have been made or are contemplated for the Easter week-end from Good Friday to Easter Monday, both days inclusive, at His Majesty's convict prison, Parkhurst; for how many hours the men will be con- fined to their cells on each of these four days; and what special services, concerts, or lectures will be provided?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

On each of the four days from Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive reduced staffs will be on duty at Parkhurst Convict Prison; the usual associated labour will therefore be possible only in the mornings on Saturday and Monday. Convicts will also be out of their cells for periods of exercise covering 2¼ hours on Good Friday, one hour on Saturday, 2¼ hours on Easter Sunday, and one hour on Easter Monday. On Good Friday, Divine Service for all convicts will be held in the morning, and in the afternoon s choral and instrumental class for all convicts will be conducted by the Church Army. On Saturday morning there will be a reading of current news lasting about half-an-hour. On Easter Sunday Holy Communion will be celebrated. Some convicts will take part in this service, and in the morning there will be Divine Service for all. In the afternoon there will be a special choral service for all. On Easter Monday there will be a concert, and there will also be a concert on the Thursday before Easter which could not be arranged to be given during the week-end. The ordinary convict will therefore be out of his cell for about five hours on Friday and Sunday and about six hours on Saturday and Monday, while convicts entitled to stage privileges will be out for two hours longer than that on each day.