§ Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has now set up an Advisory Committee to hear representations of the persons in Ireland interned during May; whether he invited any hon. Member of the Irish Nationalist party to become a member; if so, how many such persons declined to serve; who is the chairman of this Advisory Committee; whether its sittings will be public; whether it will sit in Ireland or in England; and whether its sittings will begin shortly or whether there will be still further and indefinite delays before the conditions imposed on the Chief Secretary by Regulation 14B are complied with?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo Advisory Committee has been set up as no interned person had given notice of appeal within the time allowed.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received from P. F. Burke, an interned Irishman, a representation, dated 22nd May, from Arbour Hill, Dublin, and another, dated 23rd May, from Hull, urging that since his release from former internment he had been studying medicine and was hoping to pass a medical examination on 12th June; whether he is aware that recently P. F. Burke has taken no part in Sinn Fein movements, devoting himself to medical study, and is not a member of any Sinn Fein club or Volunteer corps; whether any reply has been given to, or any notice taken of, P. F. Burke's representations; and whether he will be allowed to continue his medical studies?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and that to the second part in the negative. The representations submitted by this man have been considered, and he will be allowed medical books while in prison.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Irish interned persons now in British prisons are only allowed to receive three letters weekly; whether the governors of prisons or the Press censors use any discretion as to which letters 184W should be given them if more than three are in any one week sent by post or otherwise, or whether the first that come to hand are given to the prisoners and the others ignored; whether he is aware that these prisoners in some cases complain that they get letters less welcome and important than the family letters from friends, which are never given them; whether the prisoners are now allowed to write letters, if so, how many; whether they are allowed books, daily newspapers, and the society of fellow prisoners, or whether they are kept in solitude and silence; whether they are allowed daily any open-air exercise; and whether he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the rules and regulations under which these internments are controlled?
§ Mr. BRACEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. These prisoners are entitled to write and receive three letters a week, and are allowed books and newspapers. Additional letters may be allowed for business purposes or other special reasons. If more letters are received for an interned prisoner than he is entitled to, fie is informed of the fact and the names of the writers, so that he may choose which shall be given to him. Open-air exercise and association with their fellow prisoners are allowed. I will consult my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, on his return, as to the publication of the rules.