§ MR. LOUIS SINCLAIR (Essex, Romford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Mr. F. J. Chatting was imprisoned for not paying a fine for non-compliance to an order for vaccination; that the warrant for his arrest was for Pentonville, but that he was taken to West Ham police station, then taken to Stratford police court, and kept without food from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on 7th July:. and that on his arrival at Pentonville, instead of being treated as a first class misdemeanant, his clothes were taken from him, and that he was forced to wear a prison suit, and that he was subjected to other treatment which the Act does not permit; and whether he will take such steps as will prevent a recurrence of such proceedings.
§ * SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYChatting was not arrested till about 8.40 p.m. on the 6th. It was then too late to take him to Pentonville, so he was taken to West Ham police station, and thence on the next morning to the police court, in accordance with the ordinary practice, in order that he might go on to Pentonville by the afternoon van. He had breakfast at the station, and might have had lunch at the police court, but on being twice asked whether he wanted anything replied in the negative. At Pentonville the reception officer made a mistake and treated him like an ordinary prisoner. For this mistake he will be duly dealt with by the Prison Commissioners, and it is not one which is likely to recur.
§ MR. LOUIS SINCLAIRIs no compensation or apology even to be made to this man?
§ * SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYI have not. considered the question of compensation.