§ 14. Mr. JOHNasked the Chief Secretary the total number of uncharged and untried prisoners now in custody in Ireland, giving the number in each internment camp and prison?
§ Mr. HENRYThe number of persons against whom internment orders have been made and who are now confined in the various internment camps is 2,208. The number of persons untried, including persons in civil and military custody against whom no charge has as yet been made and also persons awaiting release, is at present 1,250. This figure includes 438 persons against whom internment orders have been made who are awaiting transfer to internment camps.
§ Captain W. BENNHow many of these, can the right hon. Gentleman say, are women and young persons?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman had any complaints of the conditions of these internment camps, and will steps be taken to improve them in view of the fact that these men have not been tried?
§ Mr. HENRYNo, Sir; judging by the reports published in the Press that I have seen, and the descriptions, the prisoners seem to be having the time of their lives.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYShocking, shocking!
§ Colonel ASHLEYHow many of these prisoners are aliens?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs, the right hon. Gentleman aware that the same thing, that they were having the time of their lives, was said about the Boer women in the internment camps in South Africa?
§ Mr. LYNNIs it not a fact that the bulk of these prisoners in the internment camps are really much better off than people earning an honest living?