§ 42. Mr. KINGasked the Home Secretary why M. B., who was remanded on 24th May to Holloway Prison, was not transferred to the infirmary ward instead of being forcibly fed by wardresses for five days and kept in a padded cell; what are the names of the two magistrates and two doctors on whose authority she was certified on 29th May; is she still at Goodmayes Asylum and still refusing food; and is she proved, by Section 74 of the Lunacy Act, to be dangerous and unfit to be at large, or on what ground has she not yet been released from detention?
§ Sir G. CAVEThere is no power to transfer a prisoner while in prison on remand to the infirmary ward. The prisoner must be brought again before the justices unless certified insane and removed to an asylum, and this last course is never taken if it can be avoided, as it removes an untried prisoner from the cognisance of the Court. I have no knowledge of the case after the woman was handed over to the relieving officer, except that she was certified insane and removed to an asylum under the Act of 1890 in the usual way. The question of her discharge is one for the asylum authorities.
§ Mr. KINGHas she passed now entirely out of the control of the Home Office into that of the asylum authorities?
§ Sir G. CAVEYes, Sir.