Admiral FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Inspector of Military Prisons, July, 1893, respecting the Military Prison at Port Louis, Mauritius, on page 4, and that of the chief warder in charge of the same, on page 48. wherein it is shown to be situated on a low-lying site in a malarious climate, and to have various sanitary defects; that the health of the warders has been extremely bad, two having been invalided, eight assistant warders sent into hospital, and the only remaining warder has been 59 days sick and unfit to return to duty, all attributable to the quarters allotted for their use, which consists of only one room on ground surface, and no convenience for cooking; and whether he will direct that such prisoners be transferred from time to time to the new Military Prison at Wynberg, near Cape Town, or take some other stops to remedy the evil complained of?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN,) Stirling, &c.The sanitary condition of the Military Prison at Mauritius has been under consideration with a view to steps being taken (if funds should be available) either to remedy its defects or to remove the prison to another site. The infrequency of communication between Mauritius and the Cape, and the length of the voyage, would render impracticable the transfer of prisoners to that command.