§ 70 and 71. Mr. Wilkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has now considered the case of Mr. David Day, details of which have been sent to him, whose baby daughter died while he was serving a sentence in Horfield Prison as a civil prisoner for debt and who, owing to the prison rules at present in force, could not be granted temporary release to attend his child's funeral; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will take immediate steps to make new prison rules so that a person committed to prison for a civil offence, who is otherwise law-abiding, shall be allowed the privilege, already available to a felon, of temporary release.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have considered this case and have given instructions for the preparation of an amendment to the Prison Rules which will make civil prisoners eligible for parole.