HC Deb 31 August 1909 vol 10 cc169-71
Mr. MACKARNESS

asked whether the provisions of the third section of the Bengal Regulation No. III., of 1818, have been complied with in the cases of the nine British subjects deported in December, 1908, which require that every officer in whose custody any State prisoner may be placed shall, on 1st July of each year, submit a report to the Governor-General in Council on the conduct, health, and comfort of such State prisoner in order that the Governor-General in Council may determine whether the orders for his detention shall continue in force or shall be modified; and, if so, would he state what was the nature of the reports, and what was the determination come to by the Governor-General in Council?

The MASTER of ELIBANK

Since replying last week to my hon. Friend the Member for East Leeds, the Secretary of State has received a telegram from the Government of India. The reports submitted show that the health of all the prisoners is satisfactory. All requests for personal interviews with relatives have been granted; books and writing materials have been freely allowed, and every attention is paid to the health and personal comfort of the prisoners. As I stated last week the general considerations guiding the policy of detention under the Regulation are not affected by these reports. That policy is at any moment open to review by the Government, as circumstances may dictate.

Mr. MACKARNESS

In view of the grave doubts which have been thrown upon the police evidence in many of the recent judgments of the High Court of Calcutta, and especially in the case of Lajpat Rai, do the Government of India not think it necessary to reconsider the evidence upon which these gentlemen were deported?

The MASTER OF ELIBANK

I went very fully into this matter last week, rather more fully than the question justified, and have nothing to add to the statement I then made on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Sir HENRY COTTON

Are these prisoners strictly subject to gaol regulations?

The MASTER OF ELIBANK

I am not able to give the hon. Member any more information than I have received from the Government of India, and which I have stated very fully.

Mr. J. D. REES

May I ask whether the Government is still of the opinion last expressed in this House by the Prime Minister, to the effect that constant repetition of questions of this character, which have already been answered, tends to encourage sedition and hampers the efforts made by the Government of India towards its suppression?

The MASTER of ELIBANK

The hon. Member is open to draw his own deductions from the statement made by the Prime Minister.