§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what was the general effect of the decision of the Irish Prisons Board upon the case referred to them at the instance of Mr. Sheehy with regard to prison labour?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURThe suggestion contained in the question on the Paper is of so vague a character that I do not know what answer to make. Will the right hon. Gentleman supplement the question by an explanation?
§ MR. SEXTONTwo versions have appeared in the Press, one of which is that the Prisons Board have decided that a prisoner who pays for his diet is not liable to prison labour, and the other is that he is not liable to perform manual offices.
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURThere is a provision in the prison regulations by which a prisoner on paying for his diet escapes certain work.
§ MR. SEXTONDoes the exemption refer to all prison labour?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURMy belief is that it applies to all prison labour, excepting of course the cases of those who are sentenced to hard labour.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORIs it optional with a prisoner or not?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURI understand so.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORWill all prisoners who have not been sentenced to hard labour have the advantage of the rule?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURI have nothing further to say than was conveyed in the answer I gave last week.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORBut that has not reached the prisoners.
§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N.)Have the prisoners who are in prison in Belfast Gaol for disgraceful frauds, and who are said to be walking about the prison in tall silk hats and long coats, the advantage of this rule?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURI know nothing about that.
§ MR. SEXTONIs it not a standing regulation of the Prisons Board that all the rules shall be hung up in the cells?
§ No answer.