§ 37. Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Home Secretary why Siegfried Granaat, a Dutch diamond merchant and an anti-Nazi, who fled from Holland, has been interned in Pentonville Prison?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe detention of Mr. Granaat was ordered on security grounds. I am referring this case to the appropriate Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. WedgwoodHow long is it likely to be before the case is heard by the appropriate committee?
§ Mr. MorrisonI could not say, but I do not think there will be any undue delay. It must, of course, take its turn with other cases.
§ Mr. McGovernCould the Home Secretary not speed up all these cases of well known anti-Nazis? Is it not a scandalous thing that anti-Nazis should be kept in prison?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat is a matter to which I have given attention, and steps have already been taken to improve the organisation.
§ Sir P. HarrisWill my right hon. Friend not increase the number of committees, if possible?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat has already been done, but I will certainly give the matter further consideration?
§ 38. Mr. Sorensenasked the Home Secretary why Prince von Stahremberg is allowed to serve the Allied cause, in view of the fact that General Toreau, who is anxious to serve, is still detained; and whether he will consider releasing him?
§ Mr. MorrisonSo far as this Question relates to Prince von Stahremberg, who came to this country with the Free French Forces, it is not a matter for me. General Torcom—to whom I presume my hon. Friend refers—is detained on security grounds, and on the information before me I should not be justified in authorising his immediate release, but his case is to be referred for further consideration to the appropriate Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes my right hon. Friend not appreciate that it seems monstrously unfair to the public mind that a man with the record of Prince von Stahremberg should be free while the general, whose record compares so very favourably with Prince von Stahremberg's, is languishing in gaol, with no charge brought against him?
§ Mr. MorrisonI have already said that the case of Prince von Stahremberg is not my business, and I will not be drawn into any discussion about him. My responsibility is with regard to General Torcom. I have asked the Advisory Committee to consider his case, and I will carry out my responsibility when I get that committee's report.
§ Mr. SorensenWhen is that likely to be?
§ 39. Mr. Stokesasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that amongst 140 women prisoners recently detained at Holloway Prison are many detained under Section 18B; that there are only two w.c.'s available for their use; and whether he will take steps to put an end to such conditions, which would not be 1429 right for convicted prisoners, let alone for persons detained for preventative rather than punitive reasons?
§ Mr. MorrisonMy hon. Friend has been misinformed. There are 13 w.c.'s in those wings of the prison in which women detained under Defence Regulation 18B are accommodated. There are also additional w.c.'s in the exercise grounds, workshop and laundry. I know of no grounds for the suggestion that the accommodation is inadequate.
§ Mr. StokesIs the Minister aware that certain damage has been done to those premises? If I bring the people who complain about it to the Home Office, will they be able to see a responsible official, to get the matter put right?
§ Mr. MorrisonI do not think that those people can be brought to the Home Office, but I will consider any points that my hon. Friend brings to my notice. I only hope that those points will be more accurate than the statements made in the Question.
Major CazaletHas my right hon. Friend not received unsatisfactory reports on this prison? Will he send someone down to investigate?
§ Mr. MorrisonThis prison has often been investigated. There are problems there, and we are doing our best to solve them.