§ Mr. JAMES PARKER (for Mr. Keir Hardie)asked the Home Secretary whether any opportunity has been, or will be, afforded the women suffragettes punished for insubordination, including charges of biting and kicking officials in Holloway Prison, to lay their statement of the facts before him in person, or whether, in his replies to the questions put to him on the subject, he has been relying on ex, parte statements supplied to him by the officials?
§ Mr. GLADSTONENo punishment was inflicted in Holloway Prison on the prisoners for kicking and biting the officers, as they were under punishment for other offences, and afterwards had to be re-leased on medical grounds; but proceedings are now about to be taken against two of them for the assaults, and these proceedings will give them an opportunity of stating their version of the facts en oath. Pending the decision of the judicial authorities, I can say nothing with regard to the matter.