PRISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

10.39 a.m.

The Chief Secretary (Mr W. A. C. Goode): Mr Speaker, Sir, I move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, this is the second Bill providing for the introduction of Borstal training. It amends the Prisons Ordinance to allow for the reception in reformative training centres of persons between the ages of 16 and 21 who have been sentenced to reformative training and includes reformative training centres in the definition of "prison", so that they can be put under the administration of the Commissioner of Prisons.

I think the only clause which calls for comment is the new sub-clause (3) on page 2, which is another example of the flexibility to which I referred just now. That clause enables a boy whom the Visiting Justices find to be incorrigible, or to be exercising a bad influence on the other inmates of the institution, to be removed and transferred to the ordinary prison. This again is necessary because some lads may not respond to treatment and it is essential to safeguard the prospects for the others in the institution.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.