HC Deb 21 October 1920 vol 133 cc1053-4
10. Major BARNES

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will give the numbers respectively of meetings prohibited, papers suppressed, houses searched, and civilians imprisoned in connection with the Sinn Fein movement in Ireland since 1st January, 1919?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Before the right hon. Baronet answers, may I ask whether, until Sinn Fein is stamped out, it is desirable in the public interest to give this information, which might be of assistance to the enemies of this country?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I shall give no Information which will help enemies of this country. Since the 1st January, 1919, 127 meetings have been prohibited and 22 newspapers have been suppressed. The particulars of houses searched would involve an increased burden upon the police and military authorities, and I do not feel justified in asking for returns at this time. Particulars of the number of persons imprisoned for so-called political offences have been called for, and I would ask the hon. and gallant Member to renew this part of his question at a later date.

Major BARNES

In view of the statement made in answer to a previous question that the police were informed of every incident and accident in Ireland, and in view of the fact that these statistics are being published from tainted sources, does not the right hon. Baronet think it would be well to make the country acquainted with the real state of the case?

Mr. KELLY

Is the right hon. Baronet, as he said yesterday, as head of the Irish Government, not supplied by the military with particulars of the houses which are raided by them, and therefore could not he give this information without going to the military authorities?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

The information is undoubtedly in existence and in the hands of the police and military.

Mr. KELLY

But do you not get it?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I get it in the day to day reports, but to ask the authorities to prepare a long report about the number of houses searched is an unreasonable burden to put upon them.

Major BARNES

If, as the right hon. Baronet has just admitted, he gets it from the day to day reports it must be in the Irish Office.

Sir H. GREENWOOD

That is so.

Major BARNES

So no burden would be put upon them. Cannot you get another clerk or two in and give us this information?

Mr. MALONE

Is it too much trouble to tell the House that 27,900 houses have been searched?