§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is a fact that the hon. Member for the Camborne Division of Cornwall (Mr. Conybeare), being a Protestant, had himself registered as a Roman Catholic, and attended Mass in Derry Gaol; and, whether the prison regulations permit any prisoner to choose the religious denomination under which he shall be registered, or whether this is an indulgence extended to political prisoners? I wish to say that I wrote "so-called political prisoners." There are no political prisoners in Ireland.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Before the question is answered, I wish to ask whether the hon. Gentleman is entitled, in putting a question, to assume as a fact that which is a matter of argument?
§ * MR. SPEAKERAs a matter of fact, I directed that that question should be omitted, and it appears on the Paper by inadvertence. Seeing it on the Paper, I have allowed it to be put for this reason—that the latter part of it seems to be a matter of public importance.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIn accordance with the Speaker's ruling, I will confine my answer to the last paragraph of the question. It is open to any prisoner to name on reception the religious 718 denomination under which he is to be registered.