72. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Home Secretary how many of the three prisoners who, on 24th June, had refused their food, and were being artificially fed, are still persisting in this course and are still undergoing the same treatment; whether he will state the date on which each of these prisoners first refused his food, the date on which each was first artificially fed, the number of times this operation has been performed upon each prisoner, and, if any of these prisoners has abandoned his intention of refusing food, 885 the date on which he again took food naturally; and whether he will state in which prison each of these prisoners is confined?
§ Mr. McKENNATwo of the three prisoners referred to are still refusing their food and are being forcibly fed; these two first refused food on 21st February and 29th May, and were first forcibly fed on 4th March and the 4th June, respectively; in the one case forcible feeding has taken place 264 times, and in the other ninety-four times. The third prisoner resumed taking his food yesterday, having been on hunger strike since 14th May, and having been forcibly fed 176 times. Two of the prisoners are in Wormwood Scrubs Prison and one in Manchester.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the condition of the health of those prisoners?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reports are quite favourable.
§ Mr. PRINGLEOn prisoners who are not suffragettes has it no ill-effects?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think it depends very much on the amount of resistance offered.