§ MR. HAYTERasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been drawn to the injury done to a soldier travelling under arrest in the Bourton accident to the Great Western Express on the 27th ult.; whether he is aware that, in the West Drayton accident to the same express, another case of injury through a prisoner travelling in handcuffs occurred; and, whether he will either direct that prisoners under arrest be not conveyed by these fast express trains or will permit the removal of their handcuffs?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYIt has been mentioned in the newspaper that a soldier was injured in the late railway accident, but no official report has been received at the War Office. I am not aware that a prisoner when travelling in handcuffs was injured in the West Drayton accident; no report was made of such an occurence. Soldiers do not, as a rule, travel by fast express trains; but it would be undesirable to prevent prisoners being taken by these trains when necessary. Handcuffs are necessary for the safe custody of prisoners.