§ 29. Mr. LANGasked the Home Secretary if he is in agreement with the circular issued by the last Home Secretary urging magistrates not to impose short sentences upon first offenders ordered imprisonment?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have no knowledge of such a circular.
§ Mr. LANGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of cases have occurred in which the instruction to impose longer sentences has been re- 1464 garded as a supersession of the Probation of Offenders Act?
§ Mr. CLYNESIf my hon. Friend has knowledge of such cases, I shall be glad to consider them.