 The Act empowered the Queen in Council and the governor and council of any colony to make rules for the government of the prisons of each colony in the West Indies.These were to be binding on all persons, but had to be laid before Parliament.It also empowered the Queen to appoint inspectors of prisons, or to authorize their appointment by the governor of the colony; obstruction of these inspectors in their duties would be subject to a penalty of £20.