31. Miss Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will send an independent panel of doctors to Wormwood Scrubs to examine the Cypriot prisoners.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerNo, Sir, I regret not. I have every confidence in the competence and integrity of the medical officers at Wormwood Scrubs prison.
Miss LeeIs the Minister aware that the integrity of those representatives is not in dispute, but that what is in dispute is that they have put out a statement which is in absolute contradiction to the statement put out by my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) and myself? Will the right 1290 hon. Gentleman say that he also has complete confidence in our integrity, and will he, therefore, if dealing with two groups of people whose integrity he respects, which I must assume, find out where the truth lies?
§ Mr. ButlerI am in no doubt about the integrity of the hon. Lady or of the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway). I have seen them both on this matter, and I accept absolutely what their impression is, but I have to give the medical opinion as given me by medical persons, and whilst the hon. Members may have many talents, I am not aware that they are of the medical profession.
§ Mr. BrockwayMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the report which he has received from the medical officer at Wormwood Scrubs bears out the statement made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the medical officer did not find any sign of bruises or injuries upon these prisoners?
§ Mr. ButlerI should prefer to answer that question after it has been put on the Order Paper. I have also been making inquiries in Cyprus through my right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary, and I should prefer to give an answer to that matter, which is a full one, on a special Question, rather than to give a chance answer now, because I want to be accurate.