§ 57. Major Wyattasked the Prime Minister whether he will make arrangements for the sympathetic consideration of the cases of soldiers, sailors and airmen at present serving sentences for purely military offences not amounting to cowardice in face of the enemy.
§ The Prime MinisterAs the House has already been informed, under existing instructions all sentences awarded by courts martial are reviewed automatically at periods of not more than six months by a superior military authority. At each review such superior military authority has power to remit, suspend or commute the sentence of the court.
§ Major WyattCannot instructions be given, in view of the end of the war, that superior military authorities should review these cases favourably, in view of the fact that these are military offences which 227 would never have been committed at all had it not been for the war situation?
§ The Prime MinisterI think my hon. and gallant Friend will agree with me that these offences cover a considerable range and it is better to have a very careful review of them.
§ Mr. MaxtonWould my right hon. Friend not consider that it would be the right and proper thing to grant a general amnesty for all offences of this description?
§ The Prime MinisterI am not sure whether that course is a very good one. I am not sure that it always works out very well.
§ Mr. MaxtonWould the Prime Minister consider it?
§ The Prime MinisterI am always prepared to consider anything put forward by my hon. Friend, but as at present advised I do not think that the cause of justice is always forwarded by making some special release on a special day. It seems to me rather hard on people whose offences do not happen to come within that period.