§ 94. Mr. Footasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the investigation by the Prison Commissioners into the recent hunger strike in Dartmoor Prison.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThere are some 660 men in Dartmoor prison. On Friday, 21st January, about 90 men dining in 145W association, mainly in one hall, did not eat their dinners in the hall, though many of them ate them later in their cells. Sporadic refusals of food, sometimes of one meal, sometimes of another, continued for some days on a diminishing scale.
Forty-two men engaged in what might be called a hunger-strike, in that they refused all food for over 48 hours. They were then seen by the medical officer, when all but one desisted. On Saturday, 29th January, the remaining man desisted. No prisoner had to be artificially fed. I understand, however, that one prisoner has begun this week to refuse all food.
The cause of this demonstration can only be surmised. None of the prisoners taking part has made any formal complaint or said anything to explain it. The day before it started an Assistant Commissioner visited the prison and heard applications from prisoners who wished to see him. Only one prisoner complained about food. It is believed that a baseless rumour was circulating in the prison that the proper quantities were not being issued, and that this was used by troublemakers to foment discontent.
In fact, the quantity and quality of the meals, and their preparation and service, are of a good standard, and no question of any special action will arise unless some significant number of complaints is made through a proper channel and shown to have some prima facie justification.