§ 13 and 27. Mr. GINNELLasked (1) what military or other advantage is expected to accrue from needlessly enforcing filthy and unsanitary conditions on Irish insurgent prisoners; what need there was for leaving them eighteen hours a day without a drop of cold water to drink; why no adequate provision was made for necessary evacuations; why access to a water closet was denied for twenty-five hours; why elderly men, required to sleep on flagstones, were not allowed to procure beds or rugs from their homes; why permission to see friends, though promised in this House, has not been accorded to them; whether independent doctors are allowed to examine the health conditions in which all the prisoners are kept, to question on that 1962 subject any they may desire to question, and to record their opinions; and (2) what advantage was or is expected to be derived from starving numbers of military prisoners, crowded together like cattle in transit, in cold, hunger, and filth; compelling them to sleep on cold flagstones, with neither bed nor covering; putting looters and thieves in amongst them for their humiliation, and taking their finger prints as if they were ordinary criminals; and whether this treatment has been carried out under the supervision of Max Green, chief gaoler of Ireland?
§ 21. Mr. BYRNEasked the conditions of the prisons in which Irish prisoners are detained; whether the sanitary arrangements, the food supply, and sleeping accommodation would pass the public health authorities; and if the prisons will be open to the inspection of public health authorities?
§ Mr. GINNELLI understand the wording of my question (No. 13) has been somewhat improved, but the question is based on the experience of persons who underwent this treatment, and will the right hon. Gentleman please answer it on that basis?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe assumptions contained in Question No. 27 are not in accordance with facts.
Undoubtedly the conditions which arose at the time of the general arrest of the rebels were uncomfortable, but those conditions do not now exist. I would also refer the two hon. Members to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Salford by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, which was based upon his personal experience. I can further assure the hon. Members that everything is under strict medical supervision; that a representative of the Public Health Societies has already inspected these detention barracks, and that all proposals put forward by him have been carried out.
§ Mr. GINNELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny that the finger prints of these rebels have been taken, and that ordinary criminals have been let in among them, as stated in Question 27?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes; that is denied.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYIs there a single word you are getting from Dublin which is not false?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not the time for such statements.
§ Mr. J. O'CONNORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I visited Wakefield Prison yesterday, and had an interview with almost all the people of my Constituency who are interned there, and that they requested me to make public the fact that they regard themselves as being well treated?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis does not arise out of the question. The hon. Member is making a series of statements.
§ Mr. O'CONNORThe question I have to ask bears very strictly upon the answer that is given. People of my Constituency want to know if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that last week they made public the fact that they are well treated, with every consideration by the staff of the prison?
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman allow other Members of this House to visit any prison he pleases in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. TENNANTI will give that my consideration.
§ Mr. GINNELLWhat is the reason for this discrimination between Members of this House?
§ Mr. BYRNECan the right hon. Gentleman relieve the punishment of solitary confinement? That is the only complaint I have made on my part, and I can verify the statement made by the hon. Member.