§ Mr. SNOWDENMay I ask the Home Secretary if he has any information as to the state of health of the women Suffragettes in prison, and whether they are still being fed by force?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI am glad to say that the steady improvement in the health of all the Suffragettes continues. I am not absolutely able to answer the question as to whether they are still fed by force. "Force," however, is hardly the right word, because, although, as I understand, three of them are being fed by the medical officers, they are, in a sense, fed without any resistance on the part of the prisoners. I may say that in no case has the stomach pump been used.
§ Mr. SNOWDENI addressed a question to the Under-Secretary a few days ago, and he was unable then to give me any reply. May I repeat it, and ask the Home Secretary whether it is not a fact that the women are handcuffed during the time food is administered?
§ Mr. GLADSTONENo, Sir, there is no truth whatever in that statement.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he so ostensibly puts forward the medical aspect of the case, and whether the medical officers in the prison have acted under his instructions and by his directions?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI put forward the medical officers because it is a medical question, and, as the hon. Member knows, or might know, heavy responsibility rests upon the medical officers.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LYNCHIs it usual for medical officers to act on the instructions of the right hon. Gentleman or on their own initiative in such cases?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEWhat authority has the hon. Member for saying I have given instructions to the medical officers? I may tell him it is the duty of the medical officers to attend to the health of prisoners in their charge, and that is precisely what the medical officers have been doing in Birmingham Prison.