HL Deb 17 March 1857 vol 144 cc2389-90

VISCOUNT DUNGANNON rose to ask the Lord Privy Seal whether the system of granting tickets of leave was or would be for the present suspended, until some means were found for disposing of them, by transportation or otherwise? He hoped that when the new Parliament assembled some measure would be produced with this object. There had been a Bill pending, which had been brought in by the Government, but which, with many other measures, had been lost for the present, by the sudden dissolution now intended. The present system was most fearful in its operation, tending to increase crime to a terrible extent, and dangerous to the peaceable part of the community. The public, therefore, had some claim for a satisfactory explanation on the subject before the close of the Session.

THE EARL OF HARROWBY

said, it was not intended to suspend the operation of the ticket-of-leave system as to the small number of convicts to whom it could now be applied.

VISCOUNT DUNGANNON

What is the number?

THE EARL OF HARROWBY

could not tell the exact number, but it was very small. With regard to the future, the Government intended to re-introduce the Bill, recently withdrawn, for consideration in the new Parliament.

Forward to