§ Lord Balnielasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet reached a decision on the request made in the letter of 16th January from the hon. Member for Hertford asking for an inquiry into the conditions prevailing at Rochester Borstal; and whether the information sent with that letter will be made available to the authorities which are inquiring into the fire which took place on 20th January.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe deaths following this tragic fire have already been investigated at a coroner's inquest and found to have been caused by misadventure. This borstal presents difficult problems of control and treatment, and my right hon. Friend has established a working party to examine them. The working party will be informed about previous incidents at Rochester, including the one mentioned in the hon. Member's letter.