§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Inspector Littlechild, of Scotland Yard, has recently visited Chatham Prison and interviewed prisoners convicted in connection with the dynamite and other conspiracies; if so, was this visit paid at the request of the prisoners; and, if not, at whose instance, and with what object; and what communication was Littlechild authorized to make to these men, and who authorized him?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The visit was not at the request of the prisoners, but was for police purposes, under the instructions of the Chief Commissioner of Police. I must decline to make public any instructions given by the police authorities to a police officer for police purposes.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYAre we to understand, in addition to the solicitors who may visit prisoners, that a further enlargement of powers to visit prisoners is extended to the police; and have the prisoners an opportunity of declining to receive these visits?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe visits are of constant occurrence. Prisoners have no notice of them, and they have no opportunity of declining them.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to give notice that I shall in Committee of Supply call attention to the constant visits made on behalf of Mr. Soames and the Times to prisoners, and offers made to them of their liberty if they would give evidence, and to the general connivance between the Government and the Times.