§ 58. Mr. Messerasked the Home Secretary what was the nature of the offence or offences alleged to have been committed by Captain E. T. MacMichael, who was sent to prison for an undefined term at Luton on 14th January of this year; why he was sent to three different prisons; and whether his release on 14th March terminates his period of punishment?
§ Sir S. HoareAs the hon. Member was informed in reply to his question of 4th February, Captain MacMichael was committed to prison by the Judge of a county court for contempt of court. I understand that the contempt consisted in his having failed to make out and file with the Official Receiver in Bankruptcy a statement of his affairs in the prescribed form and having avoided examination in respect of his affairs. He was committed to Bedford prison, but was later, for medical reasons, transferred to a London prison; he was accordingly transferred on 21st January to Wandsworth prison and on the following day to Brixton Prison where he remained until his release by order of the Judge on 4th March. His release terminates his punishment for the contempt of court for which he was committed to prison.