HC Deb 30 March 1905 vol 143 cc1729-30
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the practice with reference to the remission of sentences and the consideration of the propriety of the exercise by the Lord-Lieutenant of the Prerogative of Pardon in Ireland; are there, as in England, periodic reconsiderations of the sentences passed on prisoners; is there, as in England, any, and, if so, what staff of officials for the preliminary stages of this work; and, if so, what has been their training; in what respects does the Irish system differ from the Home Office system with respect to the remission of sentences and the exercise of the Prerogative of Pardon.

MR. WALTER LONG

The remission of sentences, and the exercise of the Prerogative of Pardon in Ireland is vested in the Lord-Lieutenant. There are in Ireland, as in England, periodical reconsiderations of the sentences of all long-sentenced prisoners, in addition to the consideration of such cases on memorial. The preliminary stages of this work are carried out in the Chief Secretary's office, where all the available information is collected and summarised. It is not known that any substantial difference exists between the Irish and the English practices, but the former has remained unchanged for very many years.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

; Did not the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor state that there was no periodical revision?

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member is not entitled to refer to a previous Answer.

MR. SAWIFT MACNEILL

But they are so contradictory.