§ MR. WISEsaid, that as a great number of offences had been committed by ticket-of-leave men, he wished to ask the right hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department whether the ticket-of-leave system was to be continued? Secondly, whether any record was kept of these ticket-of-leave men who were again brought to trial? Thirdly, whether, in case of convicts elapsing into crime, the powers of the Act had been exercised and their licences revoked? and, fourthly, whether returns could be given of any reconvictions or revoked licences, as well as of the number of licences granted to convicts?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, that the question which was on the paper was the simple question whether the system would be continued. That system had been established by Act of Parliament, and had been carried out according to the provisions of the law, and it was not the intention of the Government to propose any alteration in the law at present. A record was kept of all ticket-of-leave convicts who were reconvicted, as far as the returns could be obtained from the different gaols in the country, and there was not the least objection to lay the fullest information upon that subject upon the table of the House. It was the practice to revoke the licence granted to a ticket-of-leave convict if he were subsequently convicted.