§ MR. A. R. D. ELLIOT (Roxburgh)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in order to carry out the object of His Royal Highness Commanding in Chief, manifested in the Regulations and Instructions recently issued, enjoining sentences by courts martial of much less severity than heretofore, the cases of those convicted and sentenced previously have been, or will be, considered, with the view of shortening their imprisonment; and, whether this has been, or can be, done in the cases of sentence to penal servitude without the stigma of a ticket-of-leave or licence or will require a Royal pardon?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)In order to carry out the object of His Royal Highness the Commander - in-Chief, manifested in the Regulations and Instructions recently issued, enjoin- 185 ing sentences by courts martial of much less severity than heretofore, every sentence passed within the last 12 months which has seemed severe has been inquired into, and remission made in cases which appeared worthy of it. Under an arrangement with the Home Office, all cases of soldiers sentenced to penal servitude are brought forward for consideration after certain periods of the sentences have been served; and when the interests of discipline will not suffer remissions are granted without licences or tickets-of-leave.