§ 50. Mr. Sorensenasked the Home Secretary how many persons have been proceeded against since 24th July for making statements calculated to cause alarm and despondency; how many of these persons have been convicted; and how many of such cases are being, or will be, reviewed with a view to the modification of the penalty inflicted?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)I presume that the hon. Member has in mind proceedings for offences against Defence Regulation 39BA. Such proceedings have been authorised by the Director of Public Prosecutions in 47 cases since and including 24th July last. Thirty of the persons concerned were convicted and sentenced, six were bound over and one was discharged under the Probation of Offenders Act. In the remaining 10 cases the results of the proceedings have not yet been reported. Four cases have been reviewed in consequence of representations made, but it was not felt that in 1045 any of them the circumstances called for any interference with the penalty imposed by the court. No further general review of such cases is in contemplation.
§ Mr. ManderCan my hon. Friend say what were the maximum penalties imposed?
§ Mr. PeakeI am afraid I cannot, but the penalties, generally speaking, have been on a much lower scale than they were in the cases which were reviewed by my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. SorensenIn view of the fact that some time ago many of these cases had to be reviewed and the sentences reduced, is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that in similar circumstances harsh judgments are not being inflicted to-day?
§ Mr. PeakeMy right hon. Friend has examined these cases and has come to the conclusion that no general review is called for.
§ Mr. ManderCan my hon. Friend say whether Mr. H. G. Wells is to be prosecuted?
§ Mr. SilvermanDoes the Director of Public Prosecutions himself consider each individual case before prosecution is authorised, or is his consent automatically given on the application of the local police authority?