§ 77. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the treatment of a young woman, charged on remand for travelling on rail without a ticket on 23rd May and following days, at Holloway Prison; whether this young woman was placed in a padded cell and forcibly fed; whether she was left for hours sobbing and crying, praying to God aloud so that other prisoners heard her, left alone without water, and insufficiently clad; and whether any inquiry, other than asking the Governor and prison officials for a report, has been or will be made?
§ Mr. BRACEI have seen in a newspaper the statement by another discharged prisoner upon which the hon. Member's question appears to be based. The young woman referred to in the question was remanded to Holloway Prison on the 24th May for medical observation and report. She was located in the observation ward of the hospital, but an attack of acute mania developed, and as she was very noisy and violent and was disturbing the other inmates, she had to be removed to the padded cell about 2 a.m. on the 25th. Later, owing to her refusal to take food, which she flung about her cell, she was given liquid nourishment by spoon. The statements that she was left without food or water for any considerable time, and that she was insufficiently clad, are quite unfounded. I am satisfied from the inquiries I have made that she was treated with the utmost consideration and care by the officers in charge of her, and that the allegations of ill-usage are malicious and untrue. The medical officer reported to the Court that the woman was in need 726 of asylum treatment, and she was accordingly handed over by the Court to the Poor Law authorities, and is now in Good-mayes Asylum.
§ Mr. KINGHas the right hon. Gentleman observed that these statements have been widely published, with the name of the person who vouches for them, and is any action to be taken with regard to that person if, as stated, her statements are malicious?
§ Mr. BRACEI have personally gone into the evidence, and I have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the statements are both untrue and malicious.