§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his demand for the resignation of Jonathan Pollitzer and Kay Douglas-Scott as voluntary workers at Wormwood Scrubs; to what extent this is a consequence of their views concerning the incident at the prison on 31 August; and if he is satisfied that he is adopting a policy of openness as recommended by the May committee.
§ Mr. WhitelawMr. Pollitzer was interviewed by the governor of the prison about his allegations on television, made 7W when an official inquiry into the August incident had already been announced. As a prison visitor he could, and should, have offered to the governor, or to the inquiry, any evidence available to him, and to broadcast his personal views, as he did, contravened the conditions of his appointment, which he was therefore invited to resign. Miss Douglas-Scott is not a prison visitor, but a voluntary associate of the inner London probation service. I have made no demand for her resignation.
As to openness, much has been achieved in the prison service in recent years and I am anxious that this progress should be maintained. The present case does not affect this issue.