§ Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the Advisory Council on the Employment of Prisoners since its appointment.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe Council has been very active since its appointment at the beginning of the year. The members have visited numerous prisons and borstals and sub-committees have reported on some of the main prison industries. The Council has made recommendations to me and to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, about the appointment of local advisory committees on the employment of prisoners at some of the larger prisons. It is at present studying the possibility of adjustments to the present system of prisoners' earnings and the best methods of training prisoners for work in prison.
The Council expects to make its first general report in the New Year. We shall consider in consultation with the Council whether the report should be published, and we are much indebted to the members of the Council for the time and trouble they are giving to this valuable work.