§ Mr. Aylesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases 150W of bread-and-water punishments there have been in His Majesty's prisons in each of the last three years; and if he will consider abolishing this method of punishment.
§ Mr. EdeThe number of occasions on which No. 1 Diet, consisting of 1 lb. bread per diem and water, was awarded in prisons and Borstal institutions in England and Wales during the years in question was 3,951 in 1943, 3,942 in 1944 and 5,496 in 1945. The number of persons in the prisons in each of those years, i.e., the number on the 1st January and the number subsequently admitted, was 75,702 in 1943, 77,938 in 1944 and 83,000 (estimated) in 1945. As regards the latter part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to a Question by the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hythe (Mr. Lang) on 9th May.