§ MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any objection to say on what authority he on Tuesday last made the statement that a recent inquiry by the Catholic authorities has resulted in a Report to the effect that the state of St. John's Industrial School, Walthamstow, was satisfactory; whether the inquiry referred to was held in camerâ, without cross-examination, only one complainant, and the officials inculpated being separately questioned and the boys themselves not interrogated; whether, as a fact, the inquiry resulted in establishing the truth of the complaints, and in a Report to the effect that the punishments of "tramping" and "crucifixion" had been administered continuously for several hours at a time and on several days, Sundays included, and, further, that the treatment of boys with ophthalmia was a matter that should be attended to and remedied without delay, adding that the poor sufferers have to remain in one corner of the playground without seats; whether the persons inculpated are still left in charge of the school; and whether he will direct that the investigation he has promised shall be conducted by some independent authority not already committed to a favourable Report on the school?
§ MR. ASQUITHAfter considering the allegations made against the management of the St. John's Industrial School, Walthamstow, I have come to the con- 171 clusion that in the interest of all parties it is desirable that there should be an open inquiry by a competent and independent person. Under the circumstances, it will be better that I should abstain from answering in detail the other parts of my hon. Friend's question.