§ 110. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the complaints forwarded to him of conditions at 21st Court Martial and Holding Centre, Portici, C.M.F., with particular reference to sanitation, water supply. issue of mildewed bread and period spent awaiting trial; and what steps have been taken to improve such conditions.
§ Mr. LawsonI have received a full report on the complaints sent to me by my hon. Friend which appear to be quite unjustified. I understand that an adequate external water supply exists at this camp, and, although certain necessary repairs to the internal ablutions and latrines are at the moment in progress, adequate temporary washing and sanitary. arrangements have been made. I am informed that bread is not kept for more than two days and that no complaint about mildewed bread has ever been made through official channels. The average period spent by soldiers awaiting trial in straightforward cases is about three weeks, but a longer delay is often unavoidable in complicated cases involving a great deal of investigation. Every effort is made to ensure that the time taken to bring soldiers to trial is reduced to the minimum.