§ Mr. PETOasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is proposed to close His Majesty's prison at Devizes at an early date; and, if so, whether he can indicate the date?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn view of the satisfactory reduction in the number of commitments to prison in the South and West of England, I hope that it may become possible to close, for a time at any rate, one or more of the smaller prisons in order to economise the cost of staff and maintenance, and if this is done, the case of Devizes is likely to be considered, but no steps have yet been taken towards closing it.