§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEI desire to ask the following question, of which I have given private notice, whether the Home Secretary has official information concerning the state of health of the nine women imprisoned in Winson Green Gaol in Birmingham? How many of them are being subjected to hospital treatment; and whether he can say under what prison rule or regulation one of the prisoners—Mrs. Leigh—has had food pumped down her throat against her will?
§ Mr. H. BELLOCBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask whether it is not a fact that a man condemned for a petty offence in this very year was flogged, and that after flogging, having refused food, was subjected to this treatment, and died; and whether any question was asked about it in this House?
§ The SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice of that question.
§ Mr. MASTERMANYes, Sir; the Secretary of State has received a Report this morning from the Governor of Birmingham Prison to the effect that six of the Suffragist prisoners are still under special medical treatment, and that in consequence of the treatment the condition of health of these prisoners shows progressive improvement. No prison rule or regulation deals specifically with this subject. It is the duty of the prison authorities to take such steps as are necessary to prevent prisoners from committing suicide or doing themselves personal injury. If they allowed any of their prisoners to cause their own death by starvation they would incur the gravest censure, if indeed they did not lay themselves open to criminal proceedings. In previous similar cases of this kind the prison authorities have always recognised their duty.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEI express no opinion upon the point of law; that will be dealt with elsewhere. May I ask whether six of these women are still fed by means of the stomach pump?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe information I received is that there are various means of persuading these women to take nourishment, and only in the last resort is the ordinary hospital instrument used. I believe that was only done in three cases.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask whether one of the means is that a stomach pump is used on one of the prisoners in the presence of the others?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThat I am afraid I have no information upon, but I should think it is incorrect.
§ Mr. BELLOCI understand you to say, Mr. Speaker, my question demanded notice. May I not ask whether it is not a fact that this instrument has been used in the case of men very often, and that no questions have been asked—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of that, because it is a matter that requires looking up.
§ Mr. PHILIP SNOWDENIs it not a fact that these women are bound in irons during the time that this medical treatment is being administered?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI do not think so. I will make inquiries if my hon. Friend desires; but my own information is that it is done entirely by female warders in the presence of the doctor in charge.
§ Mr. LUPTONDoes not the hon. Gentleman think it would be to the amelioration of the state of affairs if all these women were discharged from prison at once?