§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Board of Visitors of Buckley Hall have completed their investigations into allegations of brutality at the centre; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe Board, to whom I am most grateful, have completed a full and detailed inquiry into the allegations of brutality at the centre. They interviewed all the ex-inmates concerned, members of the staff, and other witnesses. They found that the serious allegations against officers of the centre were unfounded, although disciplinary proceedings under the code of discipline for prison officers were instituted against an officer in respect of one incident. The charge was dismissed through lack of evidence; only one of the ex-inmates who had given evidence to the Board attended the disciplinary hearing.
369WThe Board made recommendations, which have been accepted, about the facilities to be made available to inmates at weekends, the information card which is given to all inmates, and the way in which the functions and purpose of the Board of Visitors are explained to inmates.