§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, having regard to the lowness of the ceiling in Dublin Castle Hospital and the absence of ventilation except on one side, will he say why the outdoor exercise of the wounded prisoners who are able to go out has been curtailed; what is the reason for a guard in excess of that over prisoners elsewhere who are not wounded; whether medical visitors hold that more outdoor exercise would accelerate recovery; why the number and duration of visits to the sick have been reduced to one hour a day, most of which has to be spent obtaining a permit; and, seeing that improvements in all these respects would not involve expense or risk, whether such improvements will be carried out?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe ventilation carried out by nine large windows and two doors is quite ample, irrespective of the height of the ceiling. Daily outdoor exercise for prisoner patients has not been curtailed. Each patient capable of walking gets one hour's exercise daily. This time is deemed sufficient by the visiting medical staff. The hours allotted for visitors to Sinn Fein prisoners have not been restricted and are similar to those allowed for visitors to wounded soldiers. The Sinn Fein prisoners are in every way treated from the point of view of accommodation, medical attendance and food in exactly the same way as are the wounded soldiers of the British Expeditionary Forces, for which purpose the Dublin Castle hospital was instituted.