Detention (Release Deferment) (Hansard, 22 November 1945)

§ 53. Mr. Driberg
asked the Minister of Labour by what authority and for what reasons Servicemen are held back one group in the Class A release scheme for every two months that they have spent in detention.

§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs)
As stated in the White Paper, Cmd. 6548, on which the Government's release scheme is based, the war service which counts for release purposes is whole-time service in the Armed Forces since 3rd September, 1939, which counts for Service pay. Periods of detention do not count for Service pay and, therefore, do not come within this definition. There would be no justification for making an exception to the general rule in favour of men who have undergone detention.

§ Mr. Driberg
Was there any indication in the original scheme as explained in the House by the then Minister of Labour that there was going to be this particular discrimination?

§ Mr. Isaacs
I could not say without notice.

§ Mr. Sydney Silverman
Will the Minister explain this point? I understand his answer to be that as periods in detention do not count for Service pay, therefore they do not count in the period for release. By what authority is it held that half the period spent in detention does count since the whole period spent in detention equally does not count in Service pay?

§ Mr. Isaacs
Perhaps I may draw a parallel. A man who comes out of the Services and goes into industry ought not to be faced with a different position from that facing those who go out of the Services and go into prison.

§ Mr. Silverman
The question I put to my right hon. Friend wag this: Why docs he count half the time spent in detention towards the period calculated for Class A release if the reason for not counting the first half is that it does not count for Service pay?

§ Mr. Isaacs
If my hon. Friend will put that question on the Paper, I will try to answer it.

§ 54. Mrs. Corbet
asked the Minister of Labour on what grounds the decision was made to hold back men for release in Class A by one point for every two months spent in detention; and, in particular, if consideration was given to the fact that this, in effect, constitutes a double punishment for the one offence and penalises not only the man but his wife and family.

§ Mr. Isaacs
With regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today on a similar Question to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg). As regards the second part, no question of punishment is involved. Interruptions of paid service from other causes, for example periods of leave without pay, do not count towards release from the Forces, and it would be wrong to give specially favourable treatment to men whose paid service is broken by a period of detention.

§ Mr. Driberg
In view of the extremely illogical and inhumane nature of this discrimination, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment, if ever I am lucky in the ballot.