asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that two suicides have taken place in United Kingdom prisons during recent weeks, if he will examine the situation to ascertain whether the regulations governing prisoners thought liable to commit suicide are adequate, and also whether supervision of prisoners requires strengthening; and if he will make a statement.

A suicide in prison is a matter of great concern and reports are always prepared on the circumstances. These are studied to see whether general procedures need to be changed to improve existing precautions. We have up to now been satisfied that precautions are as good as they can be, including those for the supervision of prisoners, but are still studying some recent reports. It is, of course, impossible to order prison life so that a determined person could never take his own life.