HC Deb 28 March 1898 vol 55 cc1059-60
MR. JOSEPH A. PEASE (Northumberland, Tyneside)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to amend the rules relating to the offences for which corporal punishment can be administered in Military prisons at Home, Abroad, and in India, with a view to bring such rules into uniformity with those proposed to be put into force in the prisons and convict establishments of the United Kingdom?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

The offences for which corporal punishment can be inflicted are identical in civil and military prisons, but in the latter it must be on the order of three visitors and with the consent of the general officer commanding the district. In the civil prisons the order of two visitors is sufficient. It is not proposed to change the military rule.

MR. J. A. PEASE

Seeing that the rules are about to be changed in regard to the civil prisons, will the Under Secretary for War propose a similar alteration in relation to the military prisons?

MR. BRODRICK

If the civil prison rules are changed the military prison rules will also be reconsidered.