§ Mr. G. GRIFFITHSasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that during the past 30 years the number of occupied prisons has been reduced, approximately, by half; and will he state whether there has been a corresponding reduction of prison commissioners or assistant commissioners at the Home Office; and, if so, how many are employed compared with the number of 30 years ago?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe hon. Member will appreciate that the work now falling within the scope of the Prison Commission includes Borstal institutions and other features which had not been developed 30 years ago. I am glad to say that the number of separate establishments controlled by the Prison Commission, which was 62 in 1906, is only 39 today, but, for the reasons I have indicated, the reduction in the number of establishments does not entail a, corresponding reduction in the work of the headquarters staff.
§ Mr. G. GRIFFITHSasked the Home Secretary how many male and female candidates for the prison service, posted to a training class, to prisons on instruction or probation, have been considered 1948W unfit and discharged during the last 12 months to the nearest convenient date; if these candidates are interviewed and their credentials examined; if so, by whom; and whether he will take steps to avoid taking men and women out of permanent posts, sending them back to unemployment, and causing hardship and unnecessary expense?
§ Sir J. SIMONDuring the 12 months ended 30th October, it was found necessary to dispense with the services of 46 men and three women who had been posted to training classes, and to terminate the engagements of eight men and one woman who were under further instruction or on probation. The credentials of all candidates are examined by the Civil Service Commissioners and also by the Prison Commissioners, and all candidates are interviewed. It is, of of course, the aim of all concerned to accept only those candidates who appear likely to become efficient officers, but some candidates who in the first instance make a favourable impression are found after trial to be unsuitable, and I know of no means of avoiding this consistently with the high standard which it is necessary to maintain in the prison service. All candidates are warned in explicit terms that their engagement is liable to be terminated at any time during the period of 12 months' probation.
§ Mr. G. GRIFFITHSasked the Home Secretary whether the present governors in charge, respectively, of Bristol and Bedford prisons had any experience of handling ordinary men or inmates of prisons or institutions previously to their appointments as governors; and, if so, what was that experience and the respective ages of the governors?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe governor of Bristol Prison was appointed to be a governor 13 years ago, at the age of 46 and had previously been a master in a large industrial school and a house master in a Borstal institution. The governor of Bedford Prison was appointed to be a governor 10 years ago at the age of 33 after service as a house master in a Borstal institution. He had previously served as a commissioned officer during the War and had subsequently held a commission in the Indian Army.