§ MR. BELLAIRSTo ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, from Answers to Questions circulated on 21st August, 1907, it appears that on an occasion in 1906–7 there was only one prisoner in the military prison at Hong Kong with an establishment of four to look after him, and five prisoners in the naval prison with an establishment of eight to look after them, and at the Cape of Good Hope the numbers were, on occasion, establishments of eleven and five to look after twenty-one and no prisoners respectively; and whether while making every allowance for the larger number of prisoners that may be under punishment at other times, the Treasury will ascertain if there is ample accommodation in the military prisons for naval prisoners, having regard as well to past precedent in these matters.
To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that there are separate naval and military prisons at Hong Kong, and again at Simon's Bay and Wynburg, which are within easy communication of each other; and whether steps can be taken to induce 1071 the Admiralty and War Office to cut down expenses by maintaining a single establishment at each place.
(Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) With regard to Hong Kong, the revision of the naval prison arrangements at that place is already under consideration. We are not prepared to abolish the naval prison at Simon's Bay, as the present system is necessary to meet the requirements of the service.