§ 16. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the punishments imposed for the various offences most commonly committed by men while serving sentences in the Aldershot and other detention barracks; of the most severe punishment that can be imposed for any such offence, with the number of times that it has been imposed ill each year since 1st January, 1939, and during the present year, at Aldershot and elsewhere; and if he is satisfied that conditions at the Aldershot detention barracks conform in every respect with the recommendations of the Oliver Committee.
§ Mr. LawsonAs the answer is necessarily rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Particulars of punishments which may be awarded for the offences most commonly committed by soldiers whilst serving sentences in military prisons and detention barracks are as follows
§ 1.—(a) Punishment Diet No. 1. This may be ordered for a period not exceeding 15 days. Whilst undergoing this punishment the man receives one pound of bread per day with unrestricted water for three days, followed by ordinary diet for three days and so on, until the expiration of the period of punishment. A man undergoing punishment diet No. I does not attend parades, nor is he given any task of work. He forfeits one day's remission for each day of the period of the award. (b) Punishment Diet No. 2 consisting of: eight ounces bread with unrestricted water. One pint of stirabout, containing four ounces oatmeal (or two ounces oatmeal and two ounces Indian meal), salt, eight ounces potatoes, un 182 restricted water. Supper—eight ounces bread with unrestricted water.
§ When ordered for a period exceeding 21 days, Punishment Diet No. 2 consists of the above for the first, second and third weeks, then ordinary diet for the fourth week, then as for the first three weeks. The entire period of the award must not exceed 42 days. A man undergoing Punishment Diet No. 2 attends parades for inspection only, and is not given work of a heavy nature. He forfeits one half a day's remission for each day of the period of the award. (c) Close confinement. (d) Forfeiture of remission. (c) Extra military instruction.(f) De- privation of mattress (not exceeding three days) for idleness.(g) Deprivation of library book.
§ 2. The most severe punishment which may be imposed by the commandant is: (i) Three days' close confinement (ii) Three days' Punishment Diet No. 1. (iii) 21 days' Punishment Diet No. 2. (iv) Forfeiture of remission for a period not exceeding 14 days.
§ 3. The most severe punishment which may be imposed by a board of visitors is: (i) 14 days' close confinement. (ii) 15 days' Punishment Diet No. I. (iii) 42 days' Punishment Diet No. 2. (iv) Forfeiture of remission for a period not exceeding 28 days.
§ 4. The number of times the most severe punishment has been awarded since 1st January, 1939, is as follows:
| Year | By Commandants. | By Board of Visitors. |
| 1939 | Nil | Nil |
| 1940 | Nil (a) | Nil (a) |
| 1941 | 8 | — |
| 1942 | 5 | — |
| 1943 | 8 | 3 |
| 1944 | 17(b) | — |
| 1945 | 23(b) | 7 |
| 1946(to 1st march) | 9(b) | 5 |
| Total | 70 | 15 |
§ (a) Does not include military prison and detention barrack, Aldershot where records are not available.
§ (b) Does not include military prison and detention barrack, Aldershot where records were destroyed during recent disturbances.
§ The figures include all the following establishments:
§ Military prison and detention barrack, Aldershot (except as stated above).
183§ Military prison and detention barrack, Northallerton.
§ Military prison and detention barrack, Shepton Mallet.
§ Military detention barrack, Chorley.
§ Military detention barrack, Colchester.
§ Military detention barrack, Fort Darland.
§ Military detention barrack. Sowerby Bridge.
§ Military detention barrack, Langport.
§ So long as it continued in use, conditions at the military prison and detention barrack, Aldershot, conformed to the recommendations of the Oliver Committee in every respect, except that there was not a full-time Medical Officer A part-time medical officer was, however, immediately available at all times.