HC Deb 22 December 1916 vol 88 cc1828-9
Mr. GINNELL

(by Private. Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of War whether the present policy of attempting to force into the British Army men who have borne arms against this country, and never renounced their principles, and punishing them in military detentions on a dietary of bread and water for disobedience to orders which they never undertook to obey, has the approval of the Government; whether John Nunan, now being subjected to this treatment, has been tried twice by court-martial, and now awaits a third such trial for disobedience to orders which the military authorities know in advance he will never obey; and if it has not been determined to enforce the death penalty by starvation on this young man for his principles? Will the Under-Secretary say how long the policy of successive courts-martial and continuous bread and water is to be continued in this case?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I have had no notice of this question.