§ 11. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether George Sairio, a Russian subject, has now been deported; whether he was brought before the Advisory Committee on 6th February, 1917; how long after that date-did his deportation occur; when brought before the Advisory Committee was he handcuffed to two men; if so, was this usual in such cases; and whether he will assure the House that the delay in deporting this man, who had fought for the Allies, and his being for thirty days in solitary confinement was not in any way due to his evidence being feared by the police authorities in an action for-damages?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)An Internment Order was made in this case under Defence of the Realm Regulation 14 b on the 31st January, 1917. Sairio appeared before the Advisory Committee on the 6th and 22nd February, 1917, and the Internment Order was confirmed on the recommendation of the Committee. In January last, as the hon. Member was informed in reply to his questions on the 21st January, it was decided to send him to Russia, and he left by the first available boat after that date. As regards the rest of the question, he was not handcuffed when brought before the Advisory Committee, but when being conveyed from Brixton to Westminster Hall with two other men a light chain was used in accordance with the usual practice to facilitate their control by the officer escorting them. He never fought for the Allies, nor was he kept in solitary confinement, and the hon. Member's suggestion with regard to the police is without foundation.