§ MR. DILLONOn behalf of the hon. Member for South Down (Mr. McCARTAN), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the evidence of the head constable giver at the coroner's inquest on Catherine Steele, who died in Belfast workhouse on the 12th instant, and to the effect that a yearly average of 10,000 prisoners pas through Belfast Police Court cells; whether he can state the greatest number of prisoners put into the largest of these cells at one time; whether he will give the dimensions of the cell and say what lavatory accommodation it contains, and if there are any restoratives provided or available in case of persons being taken ill there; whether, notwithstanding the number of female prisoners, there is no woman appointed to look after them; and whether he will consider the desirability of having some woman appointed to assist the constabulary in caring for the female prisoners?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURMy attention has been directed to the evidence given by the head constable of police in the case referred to, which sets forth the facts with substantial accuracy. The 642 dimensions of the largest of the cells are 20 feet 8 inches by 15 feet 6 inches by 11 feet. The maximum number of persons placed in this cell, at one time, was 20. It contains only one w.c., of a very defective kind, and no restoratives are provided or available for persons taken suddenly ill. There is no female attendant to look after the female prisoners, though there is a female searcher who is sent for when required, to search female prisoners. I may observe that in November, 1895, Mr. Seddall, the district inspector of police, at the request of the Lord Mayor and members of the Police Committee of the Belfast Corporation, made a written report to the Committee on the subject of the condition of the cells, and that subsequently two members of the Committee, accompanied by the Commissioners of Police, visited and inspected the police stations of a number of towns in England and Scotland. The result of that inspection was a report recommending the erection of new cells in substitution of the existing ones, which were strongly condemned. I understand that application has been made by the Corporation to the Local Government Board for a loan to enable the Corporation to proceed with the construction of new cells, and I may add that one of the proposals in connection with the new cells is that there should be one or more female attendants appointed to look after female prisoners.
§ MR. DILLONasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would not do something to hurry up the Corporation in this matter, as he understood that the cells had been condemned for a long time, and that the coroner's jury had severely censured the Corporation in delaying to take action?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURsaid that he had no power over the Corporation, but probably the asking this Question would call their attention to the subject.