§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)said he had intended to ask the Prime Minister whether he had been asked to receive a deputation from the Women's Social and Political Union with regard to woman suffrage, and whether with a view to allaying the excitement which existed and which was leading to the women being again sent to prison, and to possible disturbances in the streets, he had any further statement to make on the subject of the enfranchisement of women. He had received from the Prime Minister notice that he was unable to be present to-day. He would accordingly ask the Home Secretary whether the Government were prepared to make any definite statement concerning the enfranchisement of women.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.This is the first notice I have received. Obviously I cannot make any statement in reply to the hon. Member. I must refer him to the utterances of the Prime Minister and to the right hon. Gentleman's answers to Questions in this House.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask the Home Secretary whether, as the prosecutions have now been entered upon as Government prosecutions, he will treat women who may be found guilty as political offenders, and see that they obtain the privileges of first-class misdemeanants usually accorded to prisoners of that class?
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe measures which have been taken are obviously police measures in the interests of law and order. If and when any persons are convicted as the result of any proceedings which may be taken, it will be open to the hon. Member to put any Question he likes to me on the subject. But I cannot answer a hypothetical Question.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEHave the prosecutions which are taking place not been instigated by the Government, as was reported in this morning's Press?
§ MR. GLADSTONEThey are not instigated by the Government, but the Government will certainly support the police in taking any necessary measures for the preservation of order.