§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to prevent homosexuality among the 8,532 male prisoners sleeping three to a cell; how soon he expects to reduce this number by increasing the number of cells or by encouraging more use of the Probation Service; and when he expects to receive the report of the Sub-Committee of his Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders.
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§ Mr. BrookePrisoners of known or suspected homosexual tendencies are not located three in a cell. If the population does not increase, it is estimated that the new establishments under construction or planned will enable the number of prisoners sleeping three in a cell to be progressively reduced to the point where in about five years' time this expedient will no longer be necessary.
Courts are well aware of the forms of treatment which are available to them as an alternative to imprisonment. The Advisory Council is expected to present shortly the Report of the Sub-Committee on Preventive Detention and somewhat later the report of the Sub-Committee on After-Care.