§ 25. Mr. HARDIEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a record is kept of the number of persons committed to prison in England and Wales for contempt of court under orders of the Judges of the Chancery Division; the number of such committal orders which we made between the 31st March, 1927, and 31st March, 1928; and what length of imprisonment was served by each of the persons committed before their contempt was purged?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Vivian Henderson)As the answer is long and detailed, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ I am informed by the Lord Chancellor that the number of persons committed to prison for contempt of court between the 31st March, 1927, and the 31st March, 1928, by order of Judges of the Chancery Division was 17. The length of imprisonment of each such person was as follows: 1 month and 12 days; 1 month and 15 days; 5 months; 15 days; 1 month and 4 days; 1 month and 9 days; 5 months; 2 days; 8 days; 8 days; 14 days; 1 month and 7 days; 12 days; 2 months. Three prisoners so committed are still in prison, having been there respectively 1 year, 11 months, and 7 months, The last-named prisoner is serving also a term of nine months' imprisonment in the Second Division. All such contempt 1582 prisoners are from time to time visited and reported upon by the Official Solicitor, who brings to the notice of the Judge, by whom the committal order was made, any circumstances which appear to him to be material for the Judge to consider. If such a prisoner petitions his petition is brought to the notice of the Judge.