§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the medical officer of Winson Green Gaol, Birmingham, reports any injury to the teeth, throat, or other parts of the body of those women prisoners who have undergone the special hospital treatment known as administering food by force; and whether the medical officer has said for how long this treatment can be continued without serious injury to the patients?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe medical officer reports that no injury to the throat, teeth, or other parts of the body has been sustained by any of the prisoners who have undergone the special hospital treatment mentioned in the question. My right hon. Friend is advised on good medical authority that no serious injury is 1653 to be apprehended in any case of this kind, even if the treatment has to be prolonged for some considerable time.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask whether the Home Office has seen the reports of eminent medical authorities to the effect that this treatment always produces permanent injuries, and very often fatal results, if continued?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo, I have seen on such reports.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEI will send them to you.
§ Mr. T. H. SLOANHow many of these ladies are receiving this treatment?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am going to answer a question on that point.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked how often, during the past 12 months, prisoners in Winson Green Gaol, Birmingham, have had food administered to them by force; whether, in the case of the women suffragists who have undergone this treatment, the operation was performed by the prison doctor or, if not by him, by whom; and what was the method adopted in connection with the operation?
§ Mr. MASTERMANWith the exception of these women prisoners, there have been no cases in Birmingham Prison during the past 12 months in which it has been necessary to feed any prisoner forcibly. This treatment has been administered in some cases by the medical officer, and in other eases by a medical practitioner who has been called in to assist him. The method has been, where practicable, feeding by means of teaspoon or from a feeding cup, but where necessary the soft rubber tube in use in hospitals has been employed.
§ Mr. H. BELLOCMay I ask whether this has not been the constant practice with men for many years past?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt has been the constant practice with men and women for many years past.
§ Mr. BELLOCWill the hon. Gentleman look up the records and see whether any protest has ever been made about men being so treated?
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Home Secretary whether he has received a petition from the parents or other relatives of some of the women suffragette prisoners in Winson Green Gaol, Birmingham, stating that they are anxious concerning the state of health of the 1654 prisoners, and praying to be allowed to send their own medical adviser to report on their condition; and, if so, whether he has been able to so far relax the prison rules as to comply with this request?
§ Mr. MASTERMANApplications to the effect indicated have been received, but my right hon. Friend has been unable to accede to them. The prisoners mentioned are receiving full and constant attention from the medical officer of the prison, who has been in consultation with the medical authorities of the Home Office at the time when the refusal to take food made the prisoners' state of health serious, and has had the assistance of a medical man in practice in Birmingham, who has been present when food has been administered. According to the latest report received this morning, the health of the prisoners continues to improve. Only one of them still refuses to take food without the use of a tube.
§ Mr. F. C. MACKARNESSMay I ask whether these ladies have any opportunity of communicating with the visiting justices?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAs already stated, the ladies have already communicated with the visiting justices, who made a special visit to see if they had anything of which to complain.