§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can inform the House as to the number of the camps established by order of Lord Kitchener, where those whose homes have been destroyed and others are concentrated under guard; where the camps are situate; what is the approximate number of men, women, and children respectively therein; in whose hands the arrangements for the supply of provisions are placed; what is the nature of the shelter erected; whether relatives and others desiring to mitigate the situation and sufferings of those thus confined are allowed reasonable access to them; and are the persons in these camps held to be prisoners of war.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe numbers and situations of the camps, or the numbers of protected persons in each and the nature of the shelter provided have not been reported, but it is believed that about 15,000 are so accommodated. The arrangements for the supply of provisions have been in the hands of the local military authorities, but are being gradually transferred to civil contract. The husbands and sons of deserted women who desire to live peacefully can freely join them in their laagers, and arrangements have been made to distribute to them any gifts sent by others. The protected persons are not prisoners of war. A full report has been called for.
§ MR. DILLONWill the right hon. Gentleman state whether the women and children in these laagers are at liberty 1022 to leave them? Are they prisoners or are they free?
§ MR. BRODRICKThey are not prisoners of war.
§ MR. DILLONAre they free to leave the laagers, or are they guarded by sentries with bayonets?
§ MR. BRODRICKThey come to these laagers for protection.
§ MR. JOHN ELLISWill the right hon. Gentleman assure us that no persons are inside these camps who have not come there for protection—that they have not been driven there?
§ MR. BRODRICKI have given the House all the information I can. These camps are voluntary camps formed for protection. Those who come may go.
§ MR. JOHN ELLIS, who on again rising was received with loud Ministerial cries of "Order," said: When the Speaker calls me to order I will sit down, and not before. This is a free Parliament. Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that, before we discuss] this matter in Committee of Supply—a discussion which, I am sure, he does not wish to burke—we shall have full information from South Africa on this subject?
§ MR. BRODRICKI have already told the hon. Member that I have called for a report, and I shall be glad to give it as soon as possible. It has, however, to come from South Africa, and I cannot control the exact time of its arrival here.