§ 91. Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon after the event he was notified that Christopher Simcox had been charged with housebreaking and attempted murder; why he was not then immediately recalled to prison for a comprehensive medical and psychiatric examination; why he was not recalled when, in breach of his licence, he was convicted of a charge of unlawfully being in possession of a weapon; what reports were received by his Department of the concern felt by the police at the conduct of Simcox, following upon his being placed on probation; and what steps he intends taking to ensure that any further person released on licence after a
194Wrespectively, as recorded as the Gateshead Employment Exchange, and for the northern region, in 1951 and in 1963.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe following table gives the information required except that, in the case of Gateshead, figures of employees in employment have been provided for 1962, as those for 1963 are not yet available.
conviction of violence is under adequate supervision.
§ Mr. BrookeI was notified on 24th September, 1963, that Simcox had been charged on 20th September, and that he had been remanded in custody; in accordance with normal practice in such circumstances the decision whether to revoke his licence was deferred until the outcome of the proceedings against him was known. The court, on convicting Simcox of the charge of possessing an offensive weapon, to which he pleaded guilty, decided, after considering reports by the prison medical officer and a probation officer and hearing evidence from them, not to send Simcox to prison but to place him on probation. It would have been wrong for me as Home Secretary to override this considered decision of the court by recalling him to prison. I received no reports from the police about Simcox's conduct after he had been placed on probation. The arrangements for the supervision of persons released on licence have been working satisfactorily over a long period, but I am always ready to see whether they can be improved.
§ 92. Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the nature of the terminal medical reports given on Christopher Simcox on his transfer from a closed to an open prison, and on his release on licence; whether these medical reports and the medical report given to the court on his conviction at Staffordshire assizes were 195W all given by medical officers within the prison medical service; whether they were all given by doctors holding the diploma in psychological medicine; and whether the treatment given to Simcox and the reports given upon him will be reviewed by the committee now enquiring into the prison medical service.
§ Mr. BrookeThe transfer report made by the Principal Medical Officer at Wakefield in 1957 indicated that Simcox was mentally and physically fit for open conditions. The release report in 1958, signed by the Medical Officer of Ley-hill, indicated that his mental state was normal. These reports, and the report to the Staffordshire Assizes, were made by members of the Prison Medical Service. They were experienced doctors, although not holding a diploma in psychological medicine. The Working Party which was set up to review the organisation of the Prison Medical Service has completed its work.