§ Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the petition to the Home Office from prisoner 220W 8577, Winchester Prison, for leave to take up a legal aid certificate for the investigation of his claim for personal injuries has not been granted; and when a reply will be sent.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerA reply has been sent to the petition informing the prisoner that he cannot be given facilities to institute legal proceedings while in prison. He is due for release in October and it will be open to him to pursue the matter then if he so wishes.
§ Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that prisoner 8577, in Winchester Prison, completed a petition on 4th June, that it was transmitted to the Home Office on 14th June, and that no reply has been received notwithstanding that the original period for taking action expired on 22nd July and the extended period will expire on 5th August; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such delays in future.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe prisoner made no reference in his petition to a need to take action by any particular date. Consideration of the petition involved the making of certain inquiries and I am satisfied that there was no undue delay.