§ Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Home Secretary whether the Parkhurst prison staff is maintained at the recognised ratio of staff to prison population as obtained approximately five years ago; and, if not, in view of recent events at Dartmoor, will he give the matter his early consideration so that the safety of the staffs and the civil population of the Isle of Wight may be assured?
§ Sir H. SAMUELCareful attention has been given, and will continue to be given, to the question of the staff required at Parkhurst and at other prisons, but as pointed out in Mr. Justice du Pareq's Report, the trouble at Dartmoor was not due to insufficiency of staff. There is no fixed ratio of staff to prisoners. The474W ratio varies as a result of many circumstances, including the size and character of the prison population, the number of hours the prisoners are out of their cells, and other factors.