§ Lord H. CAVENDISH - BENTINCKasked (1) the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that there is, among persons admitted to prisons, an abnormally high percentage of persons prone to insanity and suicide, he will take steps to ascertain whether the present conditions of prison life are suitable to the mental constitution of these persons, and not calculated to aggravate these tendencies;
(2) the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to appoint an independent commission to inquire whether the suicide rate among prisoners is or is not higher than among the ordinary population within the same periods of age?
§ Mr. SHORTTI would refer to the replies given to questions by the hon. Member for Portsmouth (Sir T. Brams don) on 11th July and to-day. In the event of a general inquiry into the prison system, the point referred to by the Noble Lord will be among the matters for consideration.