§ Mr. T. Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in order to reassure relatives and others who have been led to think that prisoners are deprived of medical care, what provision exists for the medical care of prisoners; and if he is satisfied that it is adequate for its purpose.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerAll prisons have medical officers, and where the resources of a prison are insufficient to meet adequately the mental and physical needs of the prisoners arrangements exist for calling in consultant specialists and for sending prisoners to outside hospitals. These arrangements, which in my view are fully adequate, are described in the booklet "Prisons and Borstals", of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. T. Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that courts throughout the country have long relied on reports and evidence of prison medical officers, if he will give an assurance that present investigation and future policy concerning the treatment of psychopaths in prison shall depend on the Prison Medical Service and not on the theories of outside amateurs however eminent.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI rely mainly on the advice of the Prison Medical Service in all matters concerning the treatment of prisoners and I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me this opportunity of expressing my admiration of the work of prison medical officers, but I cannot give any assurance that I will not, where appropriate, seek the advice and assistance of outside consultants, who have themselves for many years rendered great service in this field.