DR. RUTHERFORDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform the House how many prisoners taken in the Soudan campaign are now confined at Damietta or elsewhere; how many have died since their captivity and of what diseases; whether the climatic conditions under which these prisoners are confined are materially different from those of the Soudan and detrimental to their health; what are the restrictions imposed on them and their families; whether they are allowed to see their families and converse with them in private and to communicate with others; whether their children are being properly educated, clothed, and otherwise cared for; and what objection there would be to their being transferred to a locality more suitable to their health and there placed on parole or allowed some qualified condition of liberty.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI must refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on the 6th February to the hon. Member for Bath, which covers some of the points raised in the Question. Nearly all the Emirs with their families have now been released. Those left have recently expressed to the Commandant their satisfaction with the treatment they receive. I am not aware that the climatic conditions are unfavourable to them, but I will inquire whether there is any reason to suppose so.