asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions, in the last two years, Blake was moved to make his escape more difficult.

As I have already told the House, Blake was not moved after his reception into Wormwood Scrubs in 1961.

Is the Home Secretary aware that the one point which is not clear is whether, despite the fact that there had been two sets of representations by the security authorities earlier, and his own attention was drawn to this matter on assuming office, he exercised his judgment upon it?

We debated this matter very fully. The other points had better await the outcome of the Mountbatten Inquiry to which they will be fully put.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement on the representations made to his Department concerning the security of Blake in the last two years.

There were no such representations. But perhaps my hon. Friend will await the report of the Mountbatten Inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now prohibit the importation of wild birds except by licence by invoking Section 7 of the Protection of Birds Act, 1954; whether he will refer the mater at once to his Advisory Committee; and what representations he has now received from ornithological societies or other interests on this matter.

No, Sir. No such suggestion has been made to my right hon. Friend by any ornithological society or other interested body.

Is it not a fact that in the last six months no fewer than several hundred birds have been lost, killed in this despicable way, and should not my right hon. Friend tackle the matter and license the import of wild birds to avoid this destruction?

The question of safeguards for birds carried by air is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade; but what my hon. Friend is now asking is that we should prohibit imports of all birds, which is a different matter because it would mean that such birds as budgerigars, parrots, and a great many others, would not be able to come into this country at all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether visits are still allowed between Mr. and Mrs. Kroger, in view of the change of prisons.

I am considering whether satisfactory arrangements can be made for further visits.

Is not the Home Secretary aware that many of us who consider, of course, that spies should be punished, nevertheless consider they should be treated like other prisoners and there should be the opportunity for Mr. and Mrs. Kroger to visit each other in prison? Would the Home Secretary consider this as a matter or urgency?

There have been very full opportunities given ever since the Krogers were first imprisoned in 1961, but certain security considerations are posed. I think these should be given overriding weight at the present time, but if, compatibly, these visits can be resumed, they will be resumed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what scientific devices, already publicised, he has introduced in the last 12 months for the prevention of crime.

It is not possible, within the compass of a reply to a Question, to give an adequate account of the continuing process of applying science to police work. I expect shortly to receive the report of the Police Advisory Board Working Party which has been surveying the whole field of police equipment, and I will then write to my hon. Friend.

When the Home Secretary receives the report, would he give publicity to the work that is being done, which, in the view of many of us, is extremely satisfactory?

I certainly propose to publish the report at an early stage, and I will certainly consider measures to see that this is brought to the notice of the public as fully as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department since when the use of spikes and/or barbed wire has been prohibited on prison outer walls; and if he will now arrange for modern security means on outer prison walls to be supplied.

It was found many years ago that obstacles on prison walls facilitated the use of grappling irons. Perimeter security is being strengthened at selected prisons, and I shall consider urgently any recommendations which Lord Mountbatten may make.

Does not the Home Secretary agree that the introduction of modern methods, operated electrically or otherwise, for guarding the top of perimeter and outer prison walls would provide that ten-minute pause that is vital to a prison governor in preventing escapes? That point is so obvious and so sensible that deferment seems entirely unnecessary.

Modern methods are of great importance and I am extremely anxious to see them introduced, but I am not sure that spikes or barbed wire are in the category of particularly modern methods. It is the case, however, that the point, as my hon. Friend said, was so obvious that it occurred to me, but technical advice is unanimously against it, and suggests that it does not increase but rather worsens security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures of protection he will afford to police and prison officers, in view of the latest outbreaks of violence.

I cannot at present add to the reply I gave on 18th October to a Question by the right hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys), and to the replies I gave on 20th October to Questions by the hon. Members for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) and for Louth (Sir C. Osborne).—[Vol. 734, c. 8, 391–2, 72.]

Does the Home Secretary realise that this is a matter of great urgency, and one that is causing great disquiet throughout the country? Would he accept that what the public and all informed people want to see is a really unpleasant swingeing deterrent against criminals carrying firearms, and prisoners attacking prison officers, especially where the prisoners are already serving life sentences?

I am certainly aware of the great urgency and seriousness of the problem, and to some extent I agree with the way in which the hon. Member has posed it. I am proposing, as I think I have already told the House, to introduce in the forthcoming Criminal Justice Bill some further firearms control relating to shotguns.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also look, during the review period, at the position of night guards in prisons, who are badly paid and work for long hours? Will he consider their rates of pay and conditions of service in his general consideration of the prison service and recruitment to it?

I will certainly keep that aspect in mind. I am aware that at the present time we are imposing heavy burdens by way of patrols whether by night guards or prison officers—or, in some cases, by the police. I hope that these burdens are only temporary until we have the Mountbatten Report and can make a more fundamental approach to the question of prison security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to amend Section 135 of the Highways Act, 1959 to increase the penalty which may be imposed upon the owner of a straying horse.

The Criminal Justice Bill to be introduced before the end of the year will provide for an increased penalty for this offence.

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for that reply but, when the penalty is being considered, will he bear in mind that in one area in my constituency in a very short period, a child has been kicked, a motor-cyclist has been killed, and numerous elderly people have been terrified by straying horses?

I certainly recognise, as my hon. Friend obviously thinks, that the present penalties of, I think, 5s. in respect of each animal, or a maximum of 30s. in each case, are quite inadequate, and we have recognised that in the Bill.

Would the Under-Secretary of State tell us whether the new penalty will attach to other animals besides horses? Other animals are a great danger, too.

The right hon. and learned Gentleman will have to await the Criminal Justice Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations had been made by prison officers before 20th October to the effect that the unrestricted association permitted to prisoners throughout all four floors of Wormwood Scrubs made it impracticable for prison officers to carry out their duty of supervising prisoners' activities and of preventing arrangements being made to effect escape.

No formal representations were made, but some of the problems resulting from unrestricted association were discussed by the staff with the Governor and the Assistant Director concerned.

Would the Home Secretary look at a letter dated 16th September sent to the Prison Department by the prison officers at Wormwood Scrubs, very strongly stressing the lack of necessary security and the impossibility of proper supervision of the unrestricted association between prisoners in large areas in the prison which could not be watched through lack of manpower?

The position in D Block was specifically considered at a conference of the security committee which was set up at the prison itself, within the prison, and the question of restricting association to the ground floor. It was decided at that time, in 1965, that this would not help, but I have looked at the position since, and I think that there is something in the view that unrestricted association over four floors was a danger, and this has now stopped.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that in a reply to a Question, he told me that 318 prisoners were accommodated in D Wing at Wormwood Scrubs, and were looked after by only two prison officers? Does he think that this is adequate?

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman is quite accurate. There were two prison officers in D Block, but a substantial number of the 318 prisoners were in the recreation hut, where there were two other prison officers. I think that was the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been threatened or attacked with firearms in the 12 months to the last convenient date; how many have suffered wounds and how many have been fatally injured; and if he will give comparable figures for the preceding 12 months and for the 12 months ending October, 1963.

I will, with permission, circulate a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that those figures show that there has been a marked increase in the use of firearms by criminals in the last two years, since capital punishment has, in effect, been suspended? Would he further agree that this is exactly what the police have for years and years prophesied would happen if ever murder by shooting ceased, in practice, to be a capital offence?

I agree that there has been a marked and, to me, most disturbing increase, but I would not agree with the exact period the hon. Gentleman mentioned, nor with the deduction he drew from it, for it appears that the worst increase was between 1963 and 1964.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that there should be more stringent penalties imposed for just carrying firearms, without the court needing proof that the firearms were being carried with the intent to do someone some harm?

There are penalties for the unauthorised carrying of a firearm, and these were substantially increased in the Firearms Act, 1965. It is for the courts to decide how strongly they apply the penalties, but I think the intention of Parliament was made clear when it greatly increased the penalties in 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if, in view of the lethal and criminal purposes to which its teachings can be put, he will introduce an inquiry into the growing cult of karate with a view to its effective control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the recent establishment of karate clubs in the North of England; whether, in view of the lethal and criminal purposes to which this cult can be put, he will inquire into the possibility of registration of these clubs with police or similar authorities; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is having inquiries made, and will give further consideration to the matter when these have been completed.

I thank the hon. and learned Gentleman for that most helpful reply. Will these inquiries cover what are, in my view, the two essential requirements that would be broadly acceptable to bona fide karate clubs? The first is the need for the proper registration of clubs and the licensing of instructors, as is done in the case of boxing. The second is the checking, and even the banning, of correspondence courses and manuals of instruction enabling persons outside the controlled discipline of the clubs to acquire dangerous and, in some cases, lethal knowledge.

The inquiries will be aimed at finding out exactly what the problem is, and we will then consider remedies. As the hon. Member will appreciate, there are difficulties in banning publication, but we will look at all these considerations when the inquiries have been completed.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that at the moment thugs and hooligans can join the clubs? Only this morning I heard that the head of a large club in the North of England welcomed an inquiry on the grounds that, as he put it, undesirable elements were now joining and that some organisers of clubs were only out to make money quickly. That being so, will my hon. and learned Friend at least make sure that clubs are registered, and that membership lists are available to the police?

What action we take will depend on the outcome of the inquiries, and any information my hon. Friend has will be gratefully received. It is encouraging to find that the karate associations welcome the idea of an inquiry and are willing to co-operate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what improvements in police and prison methods he intends to make arising out of new methods he saw operating in the United States of America during his visit there.

As regards police, I was particularly impressed by advanced communications systems; patrol arrangements and community relations, and as regards prisons by the emphasis on perimeter security and the development of prison industries. I have put in hand urgent studies to see how these features could be used in the difficult circumstances which apply in this country.

Does the Home Secretary intend to make any of his findings available to the Mountbatten Commission to help with its inquiries?

If I were asked so to do, I would do so. I think that the general trend of my thoughts on this matter is known in the Department and, through the Secretary, to the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recommendations are to be made to firms registered under the Drugs Act, 1964, to improve their security arrangements.

My right hon. Friend has arranged for Home Office inspectors to visit some of the firms registered under the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1964. As soon as he has received their reports, the trade associations will be invited to discuss the question of improved security.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this matter is very urgent and that the reply she has given is no advance on the reply which she gave to me on 4th August, when answering my Adjournment debate on the subject of drugs? Is she aware that this is a very important source of drugs which reach the illegal market and that this must be stopped? Will she take steps to get matters moving as quickly as possible?

My hon. Friend is mistaken in saying that my Answer is no advance on what I said previously. In August I said that all firms registered under the 1964 Act were being asked to provide a description of their security arrangements and their arrangements for drugs in transit. This has already been done and we are now doing a follow-up by having visits by Home Office inspectors to some of the firms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is now taking to prevent the sale of drugs which purport to be abortifacient.

To promote a drug as an abortifacient is already an offence under Section 9 of the Pharmacy and Medicines Act, 1941. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is considering the adequacy of this provision in his review of medicines legislation. My right hon. Friend is ready to consider controls over any particular drug if it is shown to be harmful.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that large supplies of drugs, generally based on quinine, are being sold expensively as abortifacients, although they are absolutely useless? Is she aware that these drugs can be obtained not only from chemists' shops but from grocers as well? Is she further aware that frequently there are reports of women who have died because of taking overdoses of these useless drugs? Does she not think that these drugs should be available only on doctors' prescriptions?

I am aware of what my hon. Friend says and, because of that, I am arranging for quinine to be considered by the Poisons Board; and, if necessary, appropriate action will be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Derek Madge, details of whom have been sent to him, who is at present detained in Borstal at Portland.

An account of this boy's case has been given to the hon. Member in correspondence by my noble Friend Lord Stonham. The boy's behaviour and response to training have recently improved.

If the Minister is aware that only this week the replies from her Department have been both dilatory and unresponsive, will she not take a further look into this case because it is one in which, if the proper course of treatment were followed, there is at least some hope of a proper cure?

I would not agree with the hon. Gentleman in either of the comments he made. This matter was dealt with expeditiously by my noble Friend, Lord Stonham, and while I do not like to discuss individual cases on the Floor of the House, as that could be embarrassing to the boys concerned, if I were to depart from that I think that I could prove that what is supposed to be wrong with this boy is not, in fact, the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make regulations to prohibit the sale of highly-flammable hair sprays.

Such regulations would have the effect of removing a great many modern hair sprays from the market, and would hardly be justified by the degree of risk. The British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association has recently issued a code of practice which deals, among other things, with warning labels, and I will watch the position in the light of experience of the working of this code.

While appreciating my right hon. Friend's concern for the adornment of the female head, may I ask her whether she has seen recent reports of injuries resulting from the misuse of these hair sprays? Is she aware that in some areas children are using them as playthings and that some children use them as flame guns when playing at gang war? Will my right hon. Friend consider the question of labelling, as recommended by the trade association, and consider restricting the sales of these sprays to young people?

I have seen the reports to which my hon. Friend refers. I have also noted the way in which these sprays have been misused. A real risk can be determined only by subjecting each product to a suitable test for inflammability. I am informed that the Technical Committee of the British Standards Association, which is concerned with aerosol sprays, is at present endeavouring to devise such a test. I am also told that real danger arises not from the spray itself but when the container is made of an inflammable material, which is not so with these hair sprays.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present actual number, annual rate of increase, and desirable number of probation officers.

On 30th September there were 2,467 established probation officers in England and Wales. From 1961 to 1965 inclusive the average annual net increase was 137; for the first nine months of 1966 the net increase was 148. The Government's declared aim is to bring the number up to 3,500 officers by 1970.

Apart from being essential for the success of after-care and the imminent parole system, would not an early pay rise be both socially just and a shrewd investment in crime prevention?

There has been an increase in the pay of probation officers recently. However, perhaps my hon. Friend is referring to the pay of senior probation officers, about which, as he probably knows, there was some difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to control gambling in this country by means of State ownership.

I am not at present contemplating such an approach to the problem.

Besides being, as the Sunday Times put it, the best means of preventing crime in this industry, should it not be the public who benefit from what is the nation's fastest-growing and most profitable sector of industry?

I take note of my hon. Friend's suggestions. I am certainly anxious to deal with this matter, and my approach to this question, on which we are producing a Bill for later in this Session, is to deal particularly with the crime aspects of the matter. However, to move in the way my hon. Friend suggests would be a very radical departure which might arouse conflicting views in Parliament.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that we had a national lottery in the reign of Queen Anne, with the sponsorship of the Archbishop of Canterbury; and, although Queen Anne is dead, could not we have one now?

I do not recall the fact, but I am interested to learn it.

In view of the growth of betting shops throughout the country, and accepting that the Government are not bringing in a Bill to control gambling as a whole, would my right hon. Friend not agree that he should introduce some interim measures to stop this growth of betting shops and possibly have greater control by local authorities in this connection?

I will bear in mind any considerations raised by my hon. Friend, although I think that the present position in connection with betting shops is fairly stable.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that proposals for the control of gambling have been widely circulated, including to such organisations as the Night Club Association, and would he not agree that hon. Members should be informed of these proposals which, I understand, have even been reproduced in full in the Press?

If the latter point is correct, then I am not sure that I am able to help hon. Members very much further. I believe that it is not usual, when making consultations with a view to legislation, to circulate copies to all hon. Members, although it is usual to consult the interested parties. I will send a copy to the hon. Gentleman and will consider whether copies should be made available to anyone else.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any further news about the probable date on which his proposals will be ready and published?

I hope to be able to publish and introduce the Bill in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help he will give to relieve the burden on Devon County Council of the cost of searching for escaped prisoners from Dartmoor Prison and other prisoners in Devon.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to change the existing arrangements.

Would the right hon. Lady bear in mind that this still costs a lot of time, money and energy and causes considerable annoyance to the County of Devon? Would she not consider even allowing one of the warders on duty outside with working parties to be at least provided with a horse, which would stop a lot of this nonsense?

The hon. Gentleman will no doubt realise that, not only because of prison escapes but for many other reasons, there are times when local authorities must meet increased expenditure because of police investigations. The number of escapes in Devon has gone down considerably between 1964 and 1966. In 1964 there were 10 escapes from Dartmoor. In 1966 there were only five.

Does the right hon. Lady realise that this is not only a question of expense; that during periods of escapes an almost intolerable burden is imposed on the constabulary? Is she aware that very often the police are on duty day and night while a watch is being kept and that Devon Constabulary has had to do this for a great many years? Will she look at the matter again?

Other areas are also affected. As I said, when one considers the whole of the County of Devon—Dartmoor, Exeter and Halden Camp—one sees that while in 1964 there were 30 escapes, in 1966 there were only 12. The number is, therefore, decreasing as the years go by in Devon County.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the collection of information concerning the export of animals for research purposes from interested bodies as suggested in his letter of 25th October, 1966, to the hon. Member for Torrington.

Of the 16 organisations consulted, 10 have submitted views, four have indicated that they will submit considered replies later and two have not yet replied.

Would not the right hon. Lady agree that the collection of this information is absolutely vital as people are very concerned about this problem? Will she urge those concerned to give this information? Will she back up, support and give every facility to the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Mr. Pounder) in his Bill?

Yes. I think it was noticeable that when the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Mr. Pounder) asked leave to bring in his Bill the other day there was considerable sympathy in all parts of the House. The hon. Member will be interested to know that I recently saw a deputation from the British Council of the Anti-Vivisection Societies about this matter. I hope that various bodies will send in their replies quickly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation allowing trial by jury in all proceedings under the Obscene Publications Act where the defence of literary merit is raised.

I understand and sympathise with the hon. Member's concern over this. But there is nothing that I can usefully add at present to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 11th August to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg).—[Vol. 733, c. 385.]

Since the Home Secretary, along with myself, was part of a delegation which called upon his distinguished predecessor, Lord Brooke, to press this reform on him urgently, is not the least that the Home Secretary can do to put his principles into practice and include this in the Criminal Justice Bill?

I do no think it could be put in the Criminal Justice Bill. We have had two Acts on this subject in the last seven years. But, should an opportunity for legislation arise, I shall endeavour to see that it is put into effect.

Will the right hon. Gentleman note that there are at least two points of view about this subject and that both are likely to be expressed?

In view of the undesirable publicity which always attends these cases, will my right hon. Friend consider at least providing that there shall be no private prosecution before a magistrates' court so that the matter can be examined by the Director of Public Prosecutions?

I am aware of all these points, but the matter would require legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government will initiate legislation to give effect to recommendations in the Home Department booklet, "Retail Trading Hours".

The proposals in this document were put forward as a basis of discussion, and it was stated in the introduction that the Government were in no sense committed to them. There is no prospect of legislation in this Session.

Has the right hon. Lady never heard that the way to hell is paved with good intentions? Can she not use her influence and her charm to get some Parliamentary time for this and other necessary Parliamentary reforms?

It is not only a question of Parliamentary time in relation to this subject. There is the important question of what such a Bill would be if we decided to produce one. As the hon. Member knows, there is no consensus of opinion on this matter. From the replies received it was shown that there is strong support for greater restrictions and equally strong support for the removal of all restrictions. Perhaps I should add that some years ago I was a member of the Gowers Committee on the Shops Acts and I know that there are difficulties inherent in this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of resignations from the police force to the nearest convenient date in the year 1965–66 compared with 1964–65.

From 1st October, 1964, to 30th September, 1965, 2,083 policemen, including probationers, resigned from forces in England and Wales. For the comparative period in 1965–66, the figure was 2,869. Recruitment went up from 7,251 in the first period to 8,477 in the second.

Nevertheless, does not the right hon. Gentleman honestly think that the rise in resignations indicates a general sense of frustration in the police force of which he has had recent and tangible personal experience? What is he doing to allay it? How many British policemen replied to the recent Toronto advertisement?

I could not answer the last point without notice. Certainly the wastage in mid-career is serious and I do not discount its seriousness, but it must be seen in relation to the recruitment efforts, which are very good.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the rise in police pay, due on 1st September, 1966, will be brought into effect at the end of the six-month pay standstill on 1st March, 1967.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 3rd November.—[Vol. 735, c. 147.]

In view of the fact that the police in effect have a contract with the Government for their deferred September rise, surely the right hon. Gentleman is not to apply the productivity or low-paid workers formula to the police as that would be inappropriate? If he did so would it not result in further resignations, to the detriment not only of the police but of the public?

I do not think that the deductions of the hon. Member follow from the Answer to which I have referred him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what form of control he will introduce to regulate the purchase and use of shotguns after the enactment of the Local Government Bill and before the enactment of the proposed Criminal Justice Bill.

As explained in the course of the debates on the Local Government Bill, the requirement to pay a fee for a gun licence does not carry with it any regulation of the purchase or use of guns. The introduction of any form of control of the purchase of shotguns would require legislation, which could not be undertaken in advance of the Criminal Justice Bill.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that that is a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs, especially in view of the Answer he gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, North (Sir Richard Glyn) in reply to Question No. 9?

No, I do not for a moment agree that it is unsatisfactory. I think the hon. Member misunderstood the position. The repeal of the provision in the Local Government Act does not affect control at all. At the earliest possible moment, in the Criminal Justice Bill, we shall introduce a measure of control of shotguns which there has not previously been.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce his decision concerning application of Mr. Granville Gardner, Offenham, near Evesham, Worcestershire, for removal of human remains interred in a shallow garden grave 45 feet from his house, the presence of which was not divulged in the title deeds, the widow of the deceased being elderly and bed-ridden; and whether he will authorise removal to consecrated ground of these human remains, under the Burial Acts.

My right hon. Friend has decided to issue a licence for this purpose.

While thanking the right hon. Lady for bringing this long controversy to a conclusion, may I ask her whether she will now examine the condition of the law in regard to the interment of human remains on private property to ensure a proper interment, that the place of interment is clearly denoted and that when the property changes hands there is an appropriate entry as to the presence of human remains -in this case in a shallow grave—on that private property and that the title deeds note that fact?

I will certainly look into the matters which the hon. Member has raised, although I could not give any specific assurance about our conclusions. As the hon. Member knows, this has been a particularly difficult case because we have to consider the feelings of the widow who was elderly and the feelings of the people who bought the property and were unaware that the remains of a human body were interred in their garden, but I hope that now a satisfactory conclusion has been reached to this difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in considering his reorganisation of civil defence, he will take into account the services rendered by the civil defence organisation at the time of the Aberfan disaster.

Yes, Sir: and I am glad to have this opportunity of paying tribute to the valuable help given by civil defence workers at Aberfan and in other peace-time emergencies. But any reorganisation must have regard principally to the main function of the civil defence organisation.

While joining with the right hon. Lady in that tribute to this voluntary force, may I ask whether she does not consider that a force of this kind has a rôle to play in disasters of this kind? Will she give the matter further consideration

Yes. The value of the help that members of the Civil Defence Corps have given in peace-time emergencies is not in question, but the main task of the Civil Defence Corps is in time of war. I have nothing to add in this respect to the Answer of my right hon. Friend to the Question asked on 25th October.

Bearing in mind the enormous area from which these civil defence volunteers were drawn and that there were no fewer than four separate fire brigades involved in the rescue, does not my right hon. Friend agree that the lesson of Aberfan is that civil defence is totally inadequate for its main purpose, bearing in mind that one medium H bomb on Cardiff would create something like 50,000 Aberfans in South Wales?

My hon. Friend is getting wide of the question. As he will know, my right hon. Friend is waiting for replies from the local authorities. I take the opportunity of paying tribute to the fire services in addition to the Civil Defence Corps for what they did at Aberfan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to abolish fox-hunting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to abolish blood sports.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals for legislation on this subject.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that Answer will give little satisfaction to the vast majority of people in this country, who want an end to these sadistic rituals? Does she not agree that urgent action is needed, not in the form of a Private Member's Bill, but by the Government, to stop the unnecessary and unjustified slaughter of animals whose offence is a limited one indeed?

I agree with some of the remarks my hon. Friend has made. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for legislation at present, although he is considering this matter in consultation with other members of the Government.

In considering the first question, would the right hon. Lady first consult foxes? I could not imagine anything more disagreeable than the mass reintroduction to the countryside of traps for trapping foxes. To witness any fox biting its way through one of its limbs to free itself from a trap is a most unhappy spectacle.

The only foxes which would have any views on this would be those which are dead, and I cannot see any sense in consulting dead foxes.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there is increasing resentment about this and a widespread feeling that the hunting of animals for amusement is not in accordance with a humane society? Will she therefore ask her right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to ensure that there is legislation on this matter at an early date?

I will certainly take note of the very strong views which have been expressed, but the Questions asked whether we have any legislation in mind at present. The Answer is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any machinery in his Department for periodic review of the safety of specially dangerous prisoners.

In addition to the special allocation which I have already announced, it is a continuous primary duty of prison staff to try to identify dangerous prisoners and secure their safe custody. The cases of prisoners placed on the escape list or made the subject of other special precautions are regularly reviewed.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman's earlier Answer to me make it clear that this broke down in some way in the case of Blake and that his case was not drawn to the attention of Ministers?

I do not think so, because what I said was that those placed on the escape list were regularly reviewed; but Blake was taken off the escape list in 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now consider introducing legislation to limit the period after which children can be removed from their foster parents by their natural parents.

No, Sir. I am writing to the hon. Lady about the safeguards already provided for the welfare of children in such cases.

Is not the right hon. Lady aware that under the present regulations many unscrupulous parents leave their children throughout the entire growing-up years with foster parents, only taking an interest in them again when they become 15 and are earning? In the circumstances, this occasions great distress to foster parents and children alike.

Yes; I recognise that and I have done everything I can to urge upon local authorities the necessity of taking advantage of powers that they already have, because certain powers already exist. For example, local authorities may assume parental rights if the parent has abandoned the child or is unfit to have the care of the child for various reasons. I should like to see more local authorities taking advantage of the powers that they have.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what scientific methods for preventing escapes from prison have been introduced since 1st November, 1964.

Various electronic and other devices are incorporated in the special wings at Durham, Leicester and Parkhurst prisons; at Parkhurst there are also closed circuit television and wireless communication. Warning devices, television and wireless communication are in course of installation at Wormwood Scrubs and Wakefield prisons and are planned for other selected prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what disciplinary action was taken as a result of these escapes; and if he will specify the total number of cases dealt with respectively by the courts and the prison visiting committees, against other prisoners and against prison officers, respectively.

In the 12 months ending 30th September, 1966, there were 529 escapes of all kinds from prison in England and Wales. Awards under the Code of Discipline were made against 44 prison officers and two night patrols as a result of escapes. Records are not available to show the action taken against other prisoners who aided escapes: in all such cases disciplinary action is taken by the board of visitors or visiting committee or a court.

In regard to disciplinary matters, has the prison governor to consult the Home Secretary before taking action? Surely the prison governor, who is the commander on the spot, ought to take decisions within his own command, within the prison, without consulting the Home Office, in the same way as the Chief Inspector of Constabulary would take decisions in relation to the police?

Yes. The prison governor is free to take action without consulting the Home Secretary.