§ 64. Miss Vickersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that 88 girls out of a total of 133 sentenced by magistrates' courts went to prison for less than six months for offences of prostitution, what action he is taking to find suitable accommodation and training for this type of offender.
§ Mr. VosperExcept that they are kept apart from first offenders, prostitutes take their place among other prisoners with sentences of a similar length. It has not154W hitherto been the practice to segregate women offenders according to the nature of their offence, and there are serious objections to this course, but my right hon. Friend recognises that prostitutes offer a peculiarly difficult problem and he is closely observing sentencing trends so that if a clear need arises he can consider making special provision for them.