§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Home Secretary if, on 25th May, 1921, two workmen employed by the Shoreditch Borough Council were arrested and deported as suspected Sinn Feiners; if he will indicate the evidence against these men, in view of the fact that neither of them are of Irish birth or parentage nor have they any Irish family connections, and they have been working for the council for 13 and 10 years respectively; why the police declined to answer the inquiries of the council concerning the men as to the charges made against them; and what has become of these men?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThe two men referred to were arrested and sent to Ireland some days before the 25th May for internment in Ballykinlar, where they now are. They are interned as persons who are suspected of acting or having acted or being about to act in a manner prejudicial to the restoration or maintenance1108W of order in Ireland. A letter of protest was sent by the borough council, but no inquiries were made.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of arrests and deportations of Irishmen in the neighbourhood of Nelson, Lancashire; if he will say when charges are to be made against these men; and whether these arrests could be made with the customary procedure?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThe county police inform me that no Irishman has been arrested in the neighbourhood of Nelson during the whole of this year. None has been deported.