CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. (Hansard, 5 February 1918)

§ 24 Mr. RICHARD LAMBERT
asked (1) the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that conscientious objectors in Wandsworth Prison are not allowed to see a copy of Regulation 243A, which affects them, and that the Regulation is not properly carried out; whether clear instructions to the commandant or governor will be issued; the Secretary of State for the Home Department (2) whether lie has received from certain prisoners in Wandsworth a petition requesting a statement as to their status under Regulation 243A; whether he replied that he sees no reason to take any action; and whether it is in accordance with recognised principles of prison treatment to refuse to prisoners information as to their status, restrictions, and privileges; and (3) whether he is aware that governors of prisons have declined to show prisoners affected by it a copy of Regulation 243A or to inform them of its contents; that Regulation 243A is unobserved in some prisons and partially observed in others; that prisoners have been punished for alleged offences contrary to it; and whether he will allow a solicitor to visit prisoners affected by Regulation 243A and take their statements, or whether an independent inquiry by Members of this House or other persons will be undertaken?

§ Sir G. CAVE
My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to Question 24. The Prison Commissioners have not thought it necessary to place these. instructions in every cell, but they propose to have copies available in each prison for the information of all the prisoners concerned. I understand that the privileges are now being given in all prisons, and uniformly, so far as the circumstances of the different prisons allow. If prisoners have any complaints to make, they should be made to the prison inspectors or to the visiting committees of the prisons in which they are confined.

§ Mr. MORRELL
Can the right hon. Gentleman state the number of men who have been placed on the land under this Regulation?

§ Sir G. CAVE
This has nothing to do with placing anyone on the land.

§ 73. Mr. WHITEHOUSE
asked the Home Secretary whether he has received the resolution passed unanimously by the Labour Congress at Nottingham, which included members of the Government, asking for the immediate release of imprisoned conscientious objectors; and what reply he has sent or intends to send?

§ Sir G. CAVE
This resolution has not yet reached me.

§ 74. Mr. WHITEHOUSE
asked the Home Secretary whether he has caused any inquiry to be made into the Report presented to the Labour Congress at Nottingham stating that a considerable number of imprisoned conscientious objectors had become insane through their sufferings; and what steps he proposes to take?

§ Sir G. CAVE
I have not seen the Report referred to, but the matter has been carefully examined by the Medical Commissioner of Prisons. There have been twelve cases in which conscientious objectors have developed symptoms of insanity in prison, and it is clear that in all of them the insanity was due to causes and conditions existing before their conviction, and was not caused by the imprisonment, though the imprisonment gave opportunities of observing their mental condition which did not exist while they were at liberty. This is indicated by the fact that in each case symptoms of insanity were observed shortly after their reception in prison. I see no ground for taking any further action.

§ Mr. WHITEHOUSE
Will the right hon. Gentleman state what action he has taken with regard to those cases in which insanity has occurred or developed?

§ Sir G. CAVE
I asked for full particulars and for a full report, and my answer is based upon the result of my inquiries.

§ Mr. WHITEHOUSE
Are there any prisoners who have developed insanity and who are still in prison?

§ Sir G. CAVE
I should think that it is very unlikely. No doubt they are being looked after in the proper place.

§ Mr. WHITEHOUSE
It is a matter of great public concern.

§ 78. Mr. LAMBERT
asked the Home Secretary whether John Taylor, a conscientious objector, has recently died in Wakefield Work Centre; whether an inquest was held; if so, what verdict was returned; and whether lie will have an independent inquiry by persons other than officials concerned into the circumstances of the deaths of the various conscientious objectors who have died during the last twelve months?

§ Sir G. CAVE
This man died on the 20th January at the West Riding Asylum, of which he had been an inmate for over two months. His death was the result of wounds which he inflicted upon himself on 2nd November while he was an inmate of the Wakefield Work Centre. As regards the causes leading up to the suicide, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question addressed to me by the hon. Member for North Somerset on the 13th November, from which it appears that at the time when he committed the act he was in great anxiety as to the effect of the air-raids upon his home in London. An inquest was held on 25th January, and a verdict of felo de se was returned. I see no ground for any further inquiry.