§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether, under the new prison rules, persons in prison for the non-payment of fines or of breaches of municipal regulations, equally with graver offenders, are compelled to strip off all clothing except their shirts, and to put their clothes outside the cell, and then to lie on a deal board as a bed for the night, covered only with the prison blanket and rug; whether women and children are also subjected to this treatment; whether the Government has received remonstrances upon the subject from persons called upon to administer justice in Ireland; and, especially, whether the Chief Baron has not absolutely refused to send women to prison, except under extreme circumstances, while such regulations exist; and, whether the Government will forthwith revert to the use of beds and hammocks in Irish prisons?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, no remonstrances upon this subject have been addressed to the Government; but my attention has been called to the remarks recently made by the Lord Chief Baron and Baron Dowse. As to children, I find that they have never been subjected to the operation of the rule respecting plank-beds. With regard to women, some modification of the application of this rule in now under consideration, and I may mention that a suggestion made the other day by the hon. Member himself with reference to an alteration in the arrangement of the plank will not be lost sight of. [Mr. MITCHELL HENRY: What suggestion?] I refer to a suggestion thrown out by the hon. Gentleman in this House when asking a Question a few days ago, to the effect that an indentation might be made in the plank, which will be considered before a decision is come to upon the subject. In all cases the utmost attention is paid to medical grounds for exemption. It is not the case that prisoners are compelled to strip off their clothes and put them outside their cells. An adequate supply of bed clothing is, 1438 as I stated the other day, invariably supplied.
§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say, whether prisoners are stripped to their shirts and compelled to sleep on the bare boards? That is a Question to which I have failed to obtain a direct reply from the Treasury Bench.
§ MR. J. LOWTHERI say it is not the case. They are not compelled to strip off their clothes and leave them outside their cells. There is a night shirt and a pillow, and an adequate supply of bedclothes served out to every prisoner.
§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYgave Notice that early next Session he would move for a Select Committee to inquire into the effect of the new Prison Rules, which appeared to have increased the harshness of our prison discipline.