§ Mr. Harry Howarthasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken on a letter sent to him on 14th February, 1967, by the Visiting Magistrates' Committee of Pentonville Prison regarding the detention in prison of persons who have been in mental institutions or who have a mental history and who, whilst in prison are likely to cause, or who are charged with, personal violence to a prison officer; if he will consider the possibility of such 73W persons being grouped together in a wing where they could have supervision and care suitable to their condition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThis difficult problem is being considered by my Department with the Ministry of Health, but I am advised that, in ordinary prison service establishments, it is generally more difficult to manage potentially violent persons when they are concentrated in a group than when they are distributed more widely.
My officials have had discussions with the Deputy Chairman of the Visiting Committee about his letter of the 14th February, and a formal reply is being sent explaining the position in greater detail and commenting on an individual case which he had raised.