SIR H. COTION (Nottingham, E.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the number of political prisoners in India who have been released or have had their sentences remitted on the occasion of His Majesty the King's gracious proclamation.
§ MR. BUCHANANI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I have just given to the hon. Member for Hackney.
§ SIR H. COTTONCannot the right hon. Gentleman give the number of political prisoners?
§ *MR. BUCHANANNo, Sir. As I have before explained, all prisoners will be treated alike, and the reduction of sentences will proceed on the same lines as at the Coronation—a month being taken off for every year of sentence. It is impossible yet to say how many prisoners will be actually released.
§ SIR H. COTTONWill the right hon. Gentleman ascertain?
§ MR. BUCHANANI do not think it necessary to make the inquiry at the moment.
§ *MR. REESMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether equality of treatment with ordinary convicts is being accorded to those who are described as political offenders, but whose offences are of a far more serious character?
§ MR. BUCHANANYes; the treatment of prisoners in gaol is uniform.
§ SIR H. COTTONAnd in all cases they are subjected to hard labour, I believe.