HC Deb 10 July 1916 vol 84 cc18-9
73. Mr. T. M. HEALY

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Irish untried prisoners in Frongoch will be allowed to organise a canteen and name a contractor to supply their wants, or must they be dependent on a contractor named by the Government; and what security will they have for the honesty of such a contractor or the quality of the provisions supplied by a person they cannot dispense with?

Mr. SAMUEL

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The arrangements for the canteen at Frongoch are the same as those for the other internment camps. The canteen is managed by a contractor chosen by the military authorities, who undertakes to-give a certain rebate on the purchases which is, with the exception of small charges made against it, devoted to the benefit of the prisoners. It is supervised by the commandant, who receives and considers any representation which may be made to him by a small committee of the prisoners appointed for that purpose.

74. Mr. HEALY

asked the Secretary of State for War whether ,he is aware that the Catholic chaplain at Frongoch is obliged to come from Wrexham on Sundays, a distance of thirty miles, and has then to return to discharge his local duties at Wrexham; whether he is aware that when a much smaller number of Catholic prisoners were in Stafford and Wakefield prisons, the chaplains there were occupied with them for several hours weekly in addition to Sunday duty; are the Government aware that the practices of the Catholic religion are not confined to Sunday observance; and, as the Government have arrested well conducted inhabitants of Ireland without alleging any crime against them, do they intend to inflict religious disabilities upon them in prison, or will they arrange that they shall have as free exercise of their religion as if they were left in local English gaols?

Mr. SAMUEL

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I am informed that, at the present time, the -Catholic priest who ministers at Frongoch arrives on Saturday afternoon and stays there until Sunday night or Monday morning. I am making inquiry whether it would be possible to increase the facilities for religious observances.