§ 5. Mr. THURTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if his Department is in possession of the name of the terrorist organisation with which the prisoners detained under the Bengal Criminal Ordinance Act and Regulation 111 of 1818 are said to have been connected?
§ Earl WINTERTONYes, Sir.
§ 6. Mr. THURTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Bengal Gaols Inquiry Committee recommended that the political prisoners should be removed from gaols altogether; and whether it is proposed that separate gaols should be constructed for them, or what action it is proposed to take in the matter?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Committee recommended, from the point of view of their inquiry, that detenus should be removed from gaols altogether, though they specified other alternative arrangements. The interval since their Report was made has been too short to enable me to say what action is proposed to be taken.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs my Noble Friend aware that in the same Report it is stated that these political prisoners are allowed to play badminton and tennis, and enjoy amenities that are not granted to other prisoners, and has not such special treatment a very demoralising effect on the other prisoners?
§ Earl WINTERTONI am aware that the Committee reported that the conditions under which these detenus are kept in ordinary gaols are demoralising to the other prisoners, and for that reason they recommended that they should be removed elsewhere.