§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was the intention of His Majesty's Government to establish a system of offering rewards for the detection of criminals?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)I would refer the Noble Lord to the reply which the Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Bath on Wednesday last.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHArising out of this answer by reference in which the right hon. Gentleman said there was a distinction between the cases where the criminal was known and was not known, may I ask in What respects the evils attendant on offering rewards for the detection of criminals are mitigated when the criminal is known?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLwas understood to reply: There is a distinct difference between the two cases. In the one the offer of a reward may lead to the manufacture of false evidence, but where no question of that kind can arise then a reward may be usefully offered.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable delay always occurs in the detection of criminals when a reward is offered?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am not aware there has been any unusual delay.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHOut of which Vote are the rewards taken?