§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any, and, if so, which, of the concentration camps in the Orange River Colony and the Transvaal were first formed in the months between July, 1900, and January, 1901; whether any, and, if so, what provision was made for the number of persons, chiefly women and children, turned out by the burning or destruction of their homes during the months of August, September, October, November, and December, 1901, and whether the order to create these camps was given by Lord Kitchener on his own initiative, or by the War or Colonial Offices in this country, and, in the latter case, will he state at what date instructions were sent out by His Majesty's Government to form camps to receive the people thus turned out.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe earliest camps formed were started in January, 1901. The hon. Member will find from the Blue-book published in November last that indigent Boers were provided for previous to the formation of the camps. The camps were originally formed on the initiative of Lord Kitchener for all those who wished to surrender voluntarily. His action was approved on December 28th, 1900.
§ MR. CHANNINGWill the right hon. Gentleman state what provision was made for the indigent Boers—for their shelter, for instance?
§ MR. BRODRICKI cannot say specifically. I presume it was such provision as would enable them to support life by giving them food and shelter.
§ MR. CHANNINGThere is no reference to it in the Blue-book.