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Prison Building (Development Group)

Oral Answers to Questions — Public Building and Works – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 18 February 1964.

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Mr. Compton Carr:

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he is taking to improve the methods of prison building.

Photo of Mr Geoffrey Rippon Mr Geoffrey Rippon , Norwich South

I have just reconstituted the development group for prison building in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Substantial improvements have already been achieved in prison building and I intend to ensure that we keep pace with the rapid advance of thought in the field of penology.

Mr. Carr:

Will my right hon. Friend be paying attention to the provision of outside walls, which cost so much, and to the possible replacement of them by other means of containment?

Photo of Mr Geoffrey Rippon Mr Geoffrey Rippon , Norwich South

I can assure my hon. Friend that nothing will escape our attention.

Photo of Mr Charles Pannell Mr Charles Pannell , Leeds West

Is the Minister aware that if he wants a shocking example of what must never happen again he need only look at Armley Gaol, in my Constituency, which is surely an offence to all civilised standards?

Photo of Mr Geoffrey Rippon Mr Geoffrey Rippon , Norwich South

Unlike the hon. Gentleman, I have never seen that gaol. However, I will certainly look at it if he feels that it is important that I should.

Minister

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Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

constituency

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