§ 35. Mr. BYRNEasked the Home Secretary if any system of examination has been set up to secure a supply of pure and wholesome food for the prisoners at Frongoch camp?
Mr. SAMUELAll foodstuffs for prisoners (with the exception of bread) are supplied direct by the Officer Commanding Supplies from Chester, at the same time and in the same manner as for the troops stationed at Frongoch, the meat ration arriving daily by train. They are examined before issue by the orderly officer as well as by the adjutant 1283 and quartermaster. Bread is baked at Frongoch by a contractor, nominated by Officer Commanding Supplies, for both prisoners and troops. Prisoners have been notified, and are aware, that they may object to any part of the rations at the time of drawing from the stores if they consider it not of good quality. If there is at any time the slightest doubt as to the soundness of any article of foodstuff received the medical officers are at once asked to examine the article in question and give a certificate as to its soundness or otherwise. Anything certified unsound would be at once withdrawn and replaced.
§ Mr. BYRNEAre any steps being taken to prosecute the contractor who supplied the meat which was condemned as unfit for human use?
§ 42. Mr. FLAVINasked how many Irish interned prisoners at Frongoch have been punished and penalised because they refused to clean out soldiers' quarters, and what was the punishment and penalty inflicted; whether the punishment and restrictions were imposed with the knowledge of the Home Office; and whether the punishment and restrictions are still being continued, or will be again enforced, for similar refusal by Irish interned prisoners to clean out refuse of any description from any quarters occupied by the military?
Mr. SAMUELOne hundred and forty-two men were removed for a time to the North Camp, with the loss of certain privileges; for refusing to remove rubbish from the guards' quarters. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the fourth, I remitted the punishment on 9th October, after consultation with the commandant, and arranged with him that the men should no longer be required to perform this particular fatigue.
§ 43. Mr. FLAVINasked the Home Secretary whether any of the Irish prisoners interned in Frongoch Camp have, owing to their confinement, been removed from there as lunatics, and, if so, how many; when did the removal take place; and what lunatic asylum are they now confined in?
Mr. SAMUELWilliam Thomas Halpin is the only prisoner at Frongoch who has been certified as insane. He was removed 1284 to the North Wales Counties Lunatic Asylum, Denbigh, on 3rd August, where he still remains.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this man's family there has never been any tinge of lunacy? If while he was confined at Frongoch Camp he became a lunatic, why was he not released?
Mr. SAMUELI believed the man showed signs of insanity very soon after reaching the camp, and as soon as the necessary arrangements could be made and certification made he was transferred to a lunatic asylum.
§ Mr. FLAVINIf he showed any signs of lunacy was not that the time for the medical officer at Frongoch to recommend his release immediately, rather than keep him there until he became a lunatic?