§ 29. Mr. MAXTONasked the Home Secretary whether he is now prepared to review the severe sentences passed on the men involved in the disturbances in Dartmoor Prison with a view to their reduction?
§ Sir J. SIMONI have had this matter under consideration for some time and, after full inquiry, have reached a conclusion about it. Of the 22 men who received sentences of varying lengths for offences connected with the prison mutiny of 1932, a number have already been released on the expiration of their extra sentence. There are still 12 in prison, of whom six will be released during next year in the ordinary course. Some of the prisoners, however, have not yet even begun to serve the additional sentences imposed in 1932 and others are only at the beginning of serving those sentences. In these circumstances I should not feel justified in taking any immediate action, but I have come to the conclusion that it will be right to take up the matter again with a view to a decision towards the end of next year.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn making this review, will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to take into consideration the individual guilt of the offenders rather than the far more serious aspect caused by the collective offence?
§ Sir J. SIMONI entirely agree with my right hon. Friend. Of course we shall consider each case from the point of view of the individual concerned, and what has been found to be the reason for his action.
§ Mr. MAXTONWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that some of them have not yet completed their original sentence, does it mean that they have not completed their full sentence? Has their remission of sentence been wiped out?
§ Sir J. SIMONI was not referring to any subsequent modification of their original sentence by reason of good conduct. What I meant to say was that some of the men concerned in this very serious mutiny were men who were serving long terms of imprisonment, and when I said that some of them had not yet completed their original sentence I meant that the additional punishment could only begin when their original sentence was worked off.
§ Mr. MAXTONI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his promise to review these cases; I expected something more. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider that these men have all suffered the loss of substantial remissions of sentence they would have earned but for this outbreak?
§ Sir J. SIMONI am not sure that the hon. Member is right technically, but the principle he lays down I accept entirely.
§ Mr. GALLACHERCan the Home Secretary not consider a modification of the present system arising out of these circumstances?