§ 33 Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether a convict, E. S., who was sentenced in 1899 to penal servitude for life for murdering his wife, has been released to do national service; for what reasons he keeps in prison hundreds of conscientious objectors who were doing social service before they were deemed to be soldiers; how many convicts suffering terms of penal servitude have been released for service in Army, Navy, or civil life; (2) whether any men or youths undergoing penal servitude or imprisonment have been specially released since 4th August, 1914, before their due time, to join the Navy or Army or do national service; if so, in how many instances, respectively; (3) whether any inmates have been released since 4th August, 1914, before their due time from Borstal institutions to join the Navy or Army or do national service; and, if so, in how many instances, respectively?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)A certain number of prisoners, who had served the greater part of their sentences and had behaved well in prison, have been released for military or naval service I have no record of the number. Four prisoners (including E.S.) have been released for agricultural or other special work. Any of the conscientious objectors now in prison can obtain their release on accepting the Home Office conditions.