§ 39. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act, 1913, was passed to obviate the necessity of forcible feeding; and how much longer he intends to use the practice of forcible feeding in conjunction with temporary discharge under this Act?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)The Act referred to was passed in order to provide an alternative to forcible feeding in cases where this form of medical treatment could not be applied because of the prisoner's stale of health or for other reasons. There is no such practice as that alleged in the second part of the question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that this practice of forcible feeding of helpless prisoners is repugnant to the consciences of all decent people?