§ 48. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Prime Minister whether Mr. Harrison Barrow, who was recently sentenced to six months' imprisonment for a breach of Regulation 27c, made under the Defence of the Realm Act by the present Government, received in the same week an offer of the Order of the British Empire from him for services rendered to the country during the War?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Mr. Barrow was recommended by the Minister of Pensions for appointment to the Fourth Class of the Order of the British Empire on account of his services as a member of the Birmingham War Pensions Committee. He was informed on 18th May that it was proposed to submit his name to the King, but on the 24th May the Home Secretary heard that he had that day been convicted as mentioned in the question, and a few days later Mr. Barrow himself wrote mentioning his conviction, and asking that his name should not be submitted. His name has been omitted from those submitted to His Majesty.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEDoes the right hon. Gentleman by his reply mean that it is realised that a sentence under the Defence of the Realm Act is the highest honour that can be conferred on a man?