§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary how many Irish men and Irish women, respectively, are interned without charge or trial under Regulation 14B, Restoration of Order in Ireland Act; how many are undergoing penal servitude; how many are undergoing sentences of imprisonment with and without hard labour, respectively; and how many are under arrest?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe number of men interned in Ireland under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations 14B is 2,079. No women have been so interned. The number of persons serving sentences of penal servitude or imprisonment imposed by courts in Ireland in respect of offences arising out of the disturbed state of the country is 953. The classification asked for by the hon. and gallant Member would cause an amount of additional labour which, in2024W my opinion, the value of the return when obtained would not justify. This figure does not include persons convicted by military courts or summary courts in the martial law area. I regret that it is not possible to give the number of persons in arrest, but the hon. and gallant Member may be assured that the cases of all persons arrested on suspicion are investigated as speedily as possible with a view to their early release or internment or trial.