Mr. CHANCELLORI wish to ask the Borne Secretary whether he can give an 542 assurance that none of the six suffragist prisoners who have recently been sent to goal will be forcibly fed without the fact being announced beforehand?
§ Mr. McKENNANone of those prisoners is being forcibly fed. I could not give any such undertaking as that for which my hon. Friend has asked.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODIn view of the passing of the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act, was it not understood that forcible feeding was not to be proceeded with, and that that Act would be taken advantage of?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, but none of these prisoners are now being forcibly fed. I said again and again, in the course of the discussion on that Bill, that in view of the provisions of the Bill I honed to be able to avoid forcible feeding. But I could not give any undertaking that under no conditions would prisoners be forcibly fed.
Mr. CHANCELLORIn view of the anxiety of the friends and relatives of these prisoners to know what is going on in prison, will he see that they all know before the operation of forcible feeding is proceeded with?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot undertake to give any information to the friends of prisoners as regards their conduct in prison. I can only say, as I have stated before, that I have no desire, nor have the prison authorities any desire, to feed any of these prisoners forcibly. We shall certainly not exercise our power to do so unless in the whole circumstances of the case we feel ourselves compelled to do so.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODThen the procedure has not been changed by the remarks of Mr. Justice Phillimore in sentencing the prisoners?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not think his remarks have any relevance to the point now before the House.