§ 23. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of the Bengal detenus who have been released since the end of July last, and the number that are still being detained?
§ Earl WINTERTONSince the end of July, 29 of the persons detained or restricted under the Bengal Criminal Law 187 Amendment Act have been released or freed from all restriction, and eight have been transferred from gaols to live under certain restrictions in their homes or in a village. The number now in gaol under this Act is 23, and 75 are subject to restrictions in their homes or in villages. In addition, seven persons are detained in gaol under the Regulation of 1818.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCECan the Noble Lord hold out any hope that those who remain detained or restricted will shortly be given their liberty?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe policy of the Bengal Government and the Government of India, which, of course, is entirely approved by my Noble Friend, has been to release these prisoners where it is safe to do so from the point of view of public security. I can say no more than that.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the Noble Lord in a position to deny the statements which are prevalent to the effect that it is not the Viceroy and the Central Government who are the stumbling-block in the way of the general release of these prisoners now, but the Bengal Administration?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have not seen the statements in question. If they were made, they were entirely untrue and inaccurate in every particular; but, until the hon. Gentleman calls my attention to those statements, and tells me where they emanate from, I cannot express an opinion.
§ Mr. THURTLEIf the Noble Lord gives a definite categorical denial of the statements without any verification, I think there is no more to be said in the matter.
§ Earl WINTERTONThere is no more to be said in the matter except that I regret that the hon. Gentleman should have quoted these statements without giving chapter and verse for them.