§ Mr. LEACHasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Nonconformist ministers are provided and paid by the Government for visitation and service among Nonconformists, other than Wesleyan Methodists, in His Majesty's prisons; and how many clergymen of the Church of England, Roman Catholic priests, and Jewish rabbis, respectively, are provided and paid by the Government for similar work among members of their respective communions?
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§ Mr. McKENNAUnder the Prison Act, 1865, a clergyman of the Established Church must be appointed as chaplain to every prison. Under the Prison Ministers Act, 1863, power is given to appoint and pay ministers of other denominations when in any prison the number of prisoners belonging to any denomination other than the Church of England is so great as to make this necessary. Where the number is not so great, the Act provides for ministers being allowed to visit prisoners of their own denominations. At present there are seventy Church of England chaplains, fifty-three Roman Catholic priests, and one Jewish minister paid from prison funds for ministering to prisoners; no Nonconformist is so paid, except one Wesleyan minister for convicts in Dartmoor Convict Prison, whose services are partly required for ministration to members of the staff.