§ Mr. JOHN O'CONNORasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when will the new rule as to the treatment of certain kinds of prisoners be made and laid upon the Table of the House, as Announced?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)The Rule was presented to Parliament in draft on the 16th instant. By Section 2 of the Prison Act, 1898, the Rule cannot be finally made until the draft has lain before each House of Parliament for thirty sitting days. I should like to use the occasion presented by the question of the hon. Member to say that I have noticed with considerable regret that my action in this matter has been commented on in some of the newspapers as if it were a reflection upon the humanity and good sense 1458 of my Noble Friend Viscount Gladstone. I was careful at the time when I made my announcement to state that my views were in full harmony with his, and I have every reason to believe, that he would have taken this or some similar step had he been so fortunate as to remain at the Home Office during the piping times of peace.
§ Mr. JOHN O'CONNORMay I dissociate myself from any such comment as the right hon. Gentleman has complained of. I am very thankful to the right hon. Gentleman for the humane way in which he has dealt with the subject.