§ 48. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that it is the considered policy of the Government to inform persons convicted of offences in Ireland who go on hunger strike that they must face the consequences of their action, he will state why, subsequent to the release in the middle of April of 66 hunger strikers from Mountjoy prison, of whom more than half had been convicted of various seditious and treasonable crimes, there has been a further release since that date of 244 16 prisoners who went on hunger strike after having been convicted by court-martial of various offences?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General for Ireland to a question on this subject on the 21st June.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMay I have an answer why the Government, having declared they are not going to allow people who have been convicted out on hunger strike, they have, according to official answers, let out 16 in the last two months?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMy hon. and gallant Friend's information, I presume, is derived from the answer to which I have referred, and to which I have nothing to add.