§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether Her Majesty's Govern- 46 ment will take measures to diminish the large number of punishments in the gaols of Bengal, seeing that the latest issued Returns of such punishments show that in 1891, out of a prison population of 17,122, more than half, or 10,873, were punished with handcuffs; still more than half, or 11,321, with fetters; and 1,661 with extra penal labour; such punishments being also greatly in excess of the punishments of prisoners in the previous year?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. G. RUSSELL, North Beds)My hon. Friend's question appears to refer to the year 1892, as the figures quoted do not occur in the Returns for 1891. As regards the year 1892, the number 17,122 is the average daily number of prisoners, whereas the other numbers quoted are those of the various punishments inflicted throughout the whole year. These two sets of figures have, therefore, no relation to each other. Proportionately to the number of prisoners, there was no material increase in the number of punishments for 1892. The question as to punishment by handcuffing is now under the consideration of the Government of India with a view to the modification of the existing law.
§ MR. S. SMITHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he can give an explanation of the fact that, according to official Indian statistics, the death rate in the Bengal gaols in 1892 was at the extraordinary rate of 43 per 1,000 prisoners, as contrasted even with the previously high rate of 30 per 1,000 in 1891, and also as contrasted with an average rate of 23 per 1,000 amongst the free population of Bengal?
§ MR. G. RUSSELLThe year 1892 was an unhealthy one in Bengal, the general death rate rising to 31.92, as against the average of 23 quoted by my hon. Friend. The proportionate increase was, therefore, much the same among the free population as it was in the prisons. In comparing the gaol mortality with the general mortality, it must be remembered that the gaol statistics are absolutely correct, while the death registration among the general population is still far from perfect.