§ 74. Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the number of prisoners now, or on the 1st July, in Irish prisons who have been arrested under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, 1887, or under the Regulations of the Defence of the Realm Act; and how many of them were arrested in May and June, 1918, respectively?
§ Mr. SAMUELSInquiries are being made, and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member.
§ 75. Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state, if necessary by publishing details in the OFFICIAL REPORT, the exact scale of the special dietary for prisoners who are kept in prison under the Defence of the Realm Acts without being charged or brought to trial; and, if there are more than one such dietary, whether the distinguishing numbers of such dietaries and their differences can be stated?
§ Sir G. CAVEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question, which, I presume, refers to persons interned under Defence of the Realm Regulation 14B. Their dietary is arranged so as to conform to the allowances of rationed foodstuffs laid down by the Ministry of Food, and they are allowed in addition to purchase or have sent to them unrationed articles of food. The dietary is liable to variation from time to time as the rations are altered, and I do not think any useful purpose would be served by publishing details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. KINGDoes that answer apply to prisoners in Irish prisons as well as to prisoners in English prisons, or only to those in English prisons?
§ Sir G. CAVEI understand that the answer applies to both.