HC Deb 29 April 1929 vol 227 cc1300-1W
Viscountess ASTOR

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any evidence showing that the discipline in His Majesty's Prison, Oxford, was adversely affected during the year 1927, following his refusal to confirm the sentence of corporal punishment passed by the visiting committee on prisoners guilty of gross personal violence against an officer; and, if not, whether he will take steps to abolish the use of flogging as a means of prison discipline?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I am glad to say I have no such evidence; but the reference to "prisoners" is mistaken; there was only one prisoner concerned, and because in one special case the substitution for corporal punishment of some other penalty had no adverse effect on the discipline of the prison, it does not follow that prison discipline generally would be unaffected if there were no power to inflict corporal punishment in any cases of gross personal violence to an officer.

Viscountess ASTOR

asked the Home Secretary whether any of the 12 prisoners ordered to be flogged in the local convict prisons during the year 1927 had previously received corporal punishment; and, if so, will he state the number of such prisoners previously flogged and the steps taken to ascertain the mental state of such prisoner or prisoners?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Of the 12 prisoners in local prisons or convict prisons for whom corporal punishment was ordered by visiting committees and boards of visitors in 1927, one had received corporal punishment during a previous sentence. Before these committees or boards adjudicate in such eases they have before them a certificate from the medical officer in which he is required to report especially as regards the prisoner's mental state; and before the Secretary of State confirms an order for corporal punishment he also has this report before him.