§ 2. Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case which occurred on the 18th of June last, when a person arrested for non-compliance with a judgment order for the payment of a debt in respect of Income Tax was detained in prison until Monday because there was no person authorised to receive payment when tendered on Saturday afternoon; and whether he can make arrangements for the police to receive payment in such circumstances with a view to the consequent release of the debtor?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)I have no control over the arrangements for obtaining release by making payments in such cases and I do not think it within the province of the police to receive payment on behalf of sheriffs; but I am consulting the authorities concerned with a view to seeing whether the present arrangements can be improved upon.
§ Colonel DAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was a case a fortnight ago in which a man was kept in prison until Monday although the money was tendered to the Governor of the prison and the police, and can some arrangement be made whereby a man, whose friends are able and willing to pay, can be released? Will he take that into consideration?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSPersonally, I am painfully aware of that case, because I was rung up in the country about it. As I say, I have no power, and I will consult the authorities to see whether an improvement can be made.