§ Mr. SEXTON(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Home Affairs whether his attention has been called to the case of Arthur Brown, an unemployed ex-service man, who lost a leg in the late War, and whose trial for non-payment of local rates at Brierley Hill Police Court, Staffordshire, was interrupted by the Two Minutes Silence on Armistice Day, and who, after the expiration of the Two Minutes Silence, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment for the non-payment of local rates, there 2045 being no household goods to distrain; and, in view of the fact that the total income to support this man and his family does not exceed 33s. weekly, mainly from disability pension, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps, if possible, to secure a remission of the sentence?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Short)My right hon. Friend has no power to take such steps, for the Prerogative does not extend to sums of this character, but he learns from, the Press that the sum due has been paid and that Brown is not in prison.
§ Mr. SEXTONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, owing to the gracious intervention of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, that has been done, but it does not detract from the legal position, and this may happen again; and is the hon. Gentleman also aware that the magistrate who sentenced this prisoner added insult to injury—