HC Deb 06 May 1948 vol 450 cc1428-9
21. Mr. Austin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the period from the end of the war until the nearest convenient date, the number of deserters charged with criminal offences in which firearms of any character were involved.

Mr. Ede

I regret that these figures are not available.

Mr. Austin

Well, whether the figures are available or not, we must assume that they are fairly considerable, and in view of the protracted nature of this problem will my right hon. Friend look into the question with the Minister of Defence in order to arrive at some radical solution of the problem of deserters?

Mr. Ede

I answered a Question last week, when I gave the proportion of deserters to persons convicted of indictable crime: that was, 4.7 per cent. of the total persons convicted. I know of no reason for assuming that those with firearms comprise a high proportion.