§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the women suffrage prisoners now undergoing sentence in connection with a recent demonstration are to be allowed the same privileges as their leaders on giving the same undertaking?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer is in the negative. The reasons which would lead to the mitigation of sentence in the one case do not apply in the other.
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§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mrs. Gatty, a prisoner in Holloway Gaol, is refused the privileges of Rule 245 (a.) because she refused to perform work; whether Mrs. Gatty suffered so much from insomnia and nervous troubles that she had to be sent to the prison hospital on 23rd May; whether prisoners so ill as to require hospital treatment are expected to perform task work; and whether he will order that Mrs. Gatty be allowed to receive such visits as under the rule quoted she is entitled to?
§ Mr. McKENNAMrs. Gatty is receiving all the privileges under Rule 245 (a), except those that have to be earned by industry and good conduct. She was taken temporarily into hospital on the 23rd May for medical observation and treatment in consequence of complaints that she made of insomnia, but she has now been discharged from the hospital and will be able to earn visits by industry if she elects to work. Prisoners under hospital treatment are not expected to perform task work. When a prisoner is admitted temporarily to hospital for observation or for some passing ailment she is not accorded privileges above those that she was earning before she was admitted to hospital.