HC Deb 27 July 1933 vol 280 cc2788-9W
Mr. LEES-JONES

asked the Home Secretary when the report of the Employment of Prisoners Committee is likely to be issued?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I understand that the committee hope to be in a position to submit a report in the autumn dealing with part of the subject included in their terms of reference.

Mr. LEES-JONES

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the Employment of Prisoners Committee appointed primarily to inquire into the conditions of labour in prisons, have been subsequently asked to prepare a report on the general problems associated with the after-care of prisoners discharged from local prisons; if it is intended that this committee shall suggest a scheme of reorganisation covering the work now done by voluntary societies; and, if so, what percentage of the total number of those called on to give evidence before the committee had been heard before the scope of the inquiry was so enlarged?

Sir J. GILMOUR

There has been no enlargement of the Committee's terms of reference, which were: to review the methods of employing prisoners and of assisting them to find employment on discharge, and to report what improvements are desirable and practicable. The problem of finding employment for prisoners on discharge is one with which the voluntary societies and associations are intimately concerned, and it may be that their work would be facilitated and made more effective by some further coordination of their activities. No proposals to this end could be framed without prior consultation with the bodies concerned, and the only suggestion which has been made by the Committee in this connection is that, as a first step representatives of these bodies should be invited to meet in a conference at which the problem might be discussed.