§ Mr. HOGGEI beg to ask the Prime Minister a question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether he has now looked into the question of the imprisonment of eleven Lewis cottars for contempt of Court, and whether he is prepared on behalf of the Government to give an undertaking that they will take immediate steps to put the machinery of the Board of Agriculture into motion to secure land for these men within six months, if on the other hand the men are advised to give their undertaking to respect the order of the Court, and if meantime he will give orders that they are to be treated as first-class misdemeanants?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have not yet been able to look into the question personally and I cannot add anything to what was said in the Debate yesterday by the Secretary for Scotland. There is no. classification as first-class misdemeanants in Scottish prisons, but prisoners committed for contempt of Court are treated as civil prisoners. My right hon. Friend informs me that these prisoners will not be required to wear prison dress.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present time they are wearing prison dress?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have given the hon. Member an answer according to my information.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMay I point out that I saw these men in prison dress? Will my right hon. Friend not telegraph now and allow these men to wear their ordinary dress?