§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prisoner, William Ball, made any application, either to the prison authorities or to the Home Secretary, to be treated under and be accorded the full benefit of the new rules laid down by his predecessor to govern cases of political prisoners and prisoners connected with the suffrage agitation; and was any application for such treatment received from any friends of the prisoner?
§ Mr. McKENNAShortly after his reception Ball asked the prison officials why he was not being treated under the new rule, and he was told that as he had been sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour he was not eligible for that treatment. The next morning he spoke to the governor and asked leave to petition. This was granted, but after Ball had written three lines he tore it up, remarking to the warder that he thought he would "leave 975 it alone." No other application for treatment under the new rule was made by Ball or by his friends, either to the Home Office or to the prison authorities.
§ Mr. LANSBURYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Home Secretary can revise the various sentences passed, whether they involve hard labour or anything else?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have explained to my hon. Friend that the Home Secretary would have power to remit a sentence of hard labour.