§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Home Secretary how many Irish prisoners in pursuance of military orders are now detained at Dartmoor, Frongoch, Reading, and Aylesbury, respectively?
§ Mr. BRACEIf by military orders the hon. Member means orders of courts-martial, the numbers are:—Sixty-five at Dartmoor, fifty-seven at Portland, eighteen at Wormwood Scrubs, and one at Aylesbury Interned prisoners are detained not in pursuance of military orders, but by orders of the Secretary of State made under No. 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. The number of Sinn Fein prisoners so detained is 547 at Frongoch, twenty-eight at Reading, and two at Aylesbury.
§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Home Secretary (1) when it is proposed to release the Irish prisoners at Frongoch; and if, pending their release, they will be placed under the civil power; and (2) if he has yet considered the advisability of treating as political prisoners the Irish prisoners now undergoing sentences in internment camps and civil prisons in Great Britain; and if he is prepared to grant an amnesty for all prisoners arrested and detained owing to the rising?
§ Mr. BRACEIn answer to Question 112 and the first part of Question 113, I would refer the hon. Member to the observations of the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary in the Debate in this House on Wednesday last. In answer to the second part, the Home Secretary does not propose to change at Frongoch the practice which prevails at all the internment camps of putting them in charge of military officers; but questions relating to the treatment of the Irish prisoners interned are dealt with by the Home Office.