§ Mr. Prittasked the Home Secretary whether any provisions are made to protect prisoners in Brixton prison and in Walton prison against air-raids; if so, what is their general nature; if not, will he make such provisions; and whether any prisoners are locked in their cells during air-raids?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonPrisoners at Brixton and Walton are allocated in buildings of the cellular type, which is in itself an exceptionally strong form of construction and appears to afford a high degree of protection against blast and against fire risks. Moreover, the staff at these and other establishments are equipped and trained for fire-fighting and other A.R.P. duties. To allow the prisoners to come out of their cells at night would, I am advised, increase rather than decrease any risk to which they may be exposed by air raids and would, of course, create other serious difficulties.