§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Home Secretary if the treatment of Irish political prisoners in this country under sentences of secret courts-martial is defensible, why are facts in that treatment prevented by the Censor from reaching the public; why, for instance, has no newspaper been allowed to publish the fact that those prisoners have been chained in groups in addition to handcuffs; and whether he will enable Members of this House to form their own opinion of the chains by placing a set of them in the Tea Room?
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§ Mr. BRACEThe Press Bureau have not prevented the publication of any statement with regard to the treatment of the Irish prisoners. The fact that groups were chained for safety during removal was stated by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in answer to a question in this House and was reported in the Press. The Home Secretary sees no reason for adopting the suggestion in the last paragraph of the question.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked whether all the Irish political prisoners now in penal servitude in this country under sentence of secret courts-martial still adhere to their resolve to be treated as prisoners of war; if so, whether they are being subjected to any additional punishment for this; and will he describe this punishment?
§ Mr. BRACEThere is a general determination among these prisoners to refuse to obey prison rules unless they are treated as prisoners of war. They are being punished in the ordinary course for breach of prison rules, refusing to work, etc., but not, of course, on account of their desire to be treated as prisoners of war.