HC Deb 18 August 1881 vol 265 cc216-8
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to the last Administrative Report on the Bengal Gaols for 1880, issued on the 7th of April 1881, in which, among other instances of terrible destruction of life in Bengal gaols, the following figures appear with regard to the death rate per thousand in the gaol of Julpigoree:—Death, rate per thousand in 1879, 282.7; death rate per thousand in 1880, 341.2; whether it is officially reported of the same Julpigoree Gaol, in which the death rate was so fearful in 1879 and 1880, that— The mortality during the first quarter of the current year, 1881, has been at the rate of 612 per thousand per annum; and, whether any censure has been passed upon the responsible Government of Bengal for permitting this state of things to continue for a period of two years and a quarter unchecked and without breaking up this death-gaol and removing the prisoners to less fatal places of imprisonment?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

Sir, the Secretary of State for India is aware of the statement in the Report for 1880, that in the Julpigoree Gaol the death-rates during the years 1879 and 1880, and during the first quarter of the current year, were such as are stated in the Question of the hon. Member. The mortality in this gaol has engaged the special attention of the Inspector General of Gaols and of the Lieutenant Governor, who, in his Resolution of the 30th of June last, gave orders that should there be no improvement apparent in the Returns for that month the gaol must be temporarily closed. In 1879 this gaol was only third in point of mortality, so that there was no reason for singling it out for closing in that year. The Inspector General of Gaols says in his Report for 1880, dated the 7th of April, 1881, page 45— The extraordinary death rate in the Julpigoree Gaol has been, and I regret to say continues to be, the cause of much anxiety. Everything that the medical officer in charge or myself could suggest has been tried without effect. The mortality for the first quarter of the current year has been 612 per mille per annum. If there is no decided improvement in the next two months, I propose breaking up the gaol, and transferring all the prisoners with sentences above one month to one of the neighbouring gaols. It has not been considered necessary to censure the Government of Bengal, who appear to have given full consideration to the subject. I have received a private letter from the Secretary to the Governor of Bengal, which I think it desirable to read, in justice to him. It shows that from the moment of assuming the administration this subject has engaged his attention— Soon after assuming charge of Bengal, Sir Ashley Eden was struck with the unsatisfactory, and necessarily unhealthy, condition of some of the gaols, and under orders then issued by him the building of eight entirely new gaols was commenced; and these gaols, which are being constructed upon an approved plan, are fast approaching completion.

MR. O'DONNELL

said, he thought the question of persons ought not to have been brought into this matter, as he had only stated matters of fact.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

said, he had not intended to infer that the hon. Member made a personal charge against Sir Ashley Eden; but as the case in reference to Bengal had been brought so prominently forward, he had thought it only just to read the extract which he had given.