§ 97 and 100. Mr. G. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the comments of the judge at the West Riding Assizes in Leeds on Tuesday, 7th December, about the undesirability of showing a film about a mutiny to inmates of a Borstal institution; and whether he will advise the Prison Commissioners to exercise more care in their selection of films;
(2) on how many occasions have films depicting successful arson been shown at Borstal institutions; and how many times the inmates have subsequently attempted to set fire to the Borstal buildings.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI have seen a report of the remarks of the Assize Judge on the fact that the showing in a Borstal institution of an adventure film called "Two Years before the Mast" was followed immediately by a case of arson at the institution. There is no record of any previous sequence of that kind and the detailed information asked for is not available. I am satisfied that the Prison Commissioners and the authorities of Borstal institutions are alive to their responsibilities in matters of this kind.