§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mrs. Leigh is still being fed by force in Winson Green Gaol, Birmingham; whether persons convicted of a similar offence to hers at Newcastle, Dundee, and elsewhere, who refused to voluntarily take food were liberated; and on what grounds forcible feeding is being applied to Mrs. Leigh and not applied to the other cases named?
§ Mr. GLADSTONESince the outbreak of violence at Birmingham in September, I have followed one rule with regard to the prisoners who refused to take food. Where they were reported medically unfit to be fed by artificial means I have advised the remission of their sentences as soon as this was recommended by the medical authorities of the prison. In other cases it has been obviously impossible for me to remit the sentences, and they have received the medical treatment appropriate to their condition. Some of the Newcastle prisoners were released on medical certificates; others served their sentences under suitable medical treatment. In the case of Mary Leigh, there was no indication until Friday last of any medical reason for her discharge; but on Friday, owing to a change in her condition, a consultant was called in, and on Saturday I received certificates which showed that her health, weakened by her repeated attempts at starvation, was suffering, and her discharge was immediately authorised.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWhy does not the right hon. Gentleman reply to the part of the question which refers to Dundee, and were the prisoners who were discharged there during the hunger strike also suffering from weakness of health?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI did not reply to it because it had nothing to do with me. Perhaps the hon. Member will put the question to the proper authority.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWill the Home Office follow the example of the Scotch Office in regard to forcible feeding?
§ Mr. HUGH LAWWill he publish the medical report?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI think that would be quite unnecessary.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEHas the right hon. Gentleman any special report of the condition of Charlotte Marsh, who is also in 1435 Winson Green gaol, Birmingham, and whose sentence does not expire till some six weeks hence, and will he make any inquiry as to her?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEYes; reports are furnished every day about all these prisoners who are being submitted to forcible feeding. I will obtain the information for the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HUGH LAWIs he prepared to abandon this filthy and disgusting practice?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI do not agree that it is a disgusting practice. Hon. Members have made no protest against this practice, which has prevailed for very many years past in asylums, in prisons, and hospitals, and the effect of which has been grossly exaggerated, as the hon. Member is himself aware.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEUnder these circumstances is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to move a Vote of Censure on the Scotch Home Office for not following this practice?
§ Mr. HUGH LAWIs not the balance of medical evidence to the effect that it is exceedingly dangerous?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEEmphatically no. The most skilled and experienced medical men have given a precisely opposite opinion.