HC Deb 02 August 1923 vol 167 cc1746-7W
Mr. C. WILSON

asked the Home Secretary (1) the total gross and net cost, local and national, for England and Wales during the past financial year, of police, asylums, prisons, reformatories, industrial homes, Borstal institutions, inebriate homes, and administration of law and justice, respectively;

(2) the average gross net cost per head of each inmate of asylums, prisons, reformatories, industrial homes, Borstal institutions, and inebriate homes, respectively, during the last financial year?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

(a)Police.—The exact figures for 1922–23 are not yet available, but the difference between the gross and net cost is comparatively small, and the net cost was approximately £17,682,000, of which about one-half was contributed by the Exchequer and from local rates respectively.

(b) Prison Service.—The latest available figures are for 1921–22
— Gross cost. Per head. Net cost. Per head.
£ £ £ £
Local Prisons … 949,154 103 730,429 79
Convict Prisons … 242,060 142 188,527 111
Preventive Detention Prison … 23,928 254 21,171 225
Borstal Institutions … 165,461 141 130,797 111

These figures do not include the cost of new buildings and charges such as fuel, rates, etc., borne on other Votes. The whole cost of the Prison Service is paid by the Exchequer.

(c) Reformatory and Industrial Schools.—The cost is divided between the Exchequer and local rates, the contribution of the local authorities being made by means of a weekly flat rate in respect of each child maintained in the schools. There is little or no difference between the gross and net cost. The latest avail able figures are for 1921–22, which show that the total cost was about £814,046, or about £65 per head.

(d) Administration of Law and Justice.—The Police, Prisons and Reformatory and Industrial Schools have already been dealt with. As regards the Supreme Court of Judicature and the County Courts, I would refer the hon. Member to the figures in the printed Estimates, Class III, Vote 3, and Class III, Vote 6. The cost of Courts of Summary Jurisdiction and Quarter Session falls entirely upon local rates. There are no longer any certified Inebriate Reformatories. As regards the Asylum Service, I would refer the hon. Member to the Ministry of Health.