MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of star class life prisoners who were released since 1883, and the number of such prisoners who were released at the expiration of 10 years, 11 years, and 12 years respectively; how many life prisoners during the same period were sentenced to death and reprieved, and were since 1883 released; and how many star class life prisoners are now in prison (exclusive of treason-felony prisoners) who have served more than 15 years?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTThe answer to the first paragraph is 65, of whom 10 were released at the end of 10 years, six at the end of 11, seven at the end of 12. The answer to the second paragraph is 152, of whom 44 have been released. These figures do not include convicts sentenced at the present assizes or those transferred to asylums or Scotch or Irish prisons. The answer to the last paragraph is six. I should add that, In deciding when a convict under a life sentence can properly be released, the question whether he has been placed in the star class or not, which is purely a matter of prison discipline, is not taken into consideration.