§ 12. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the variation in sentences by magistrates for similar blackmarket offences; and if he will issue a circular with a view to achieving more uniformity in these sentences.
§ Mr. EdeIn fixing the appropriate penalty for this, as for any other class of offence, the court has to consider the whole of the circumstances of the offence and of the offender, and variations of sentence are therefore to be expected. It would not be proper for me to suggest to a court how it should exercise the discretion vested in it by law, and it is not within my province as Home Secretary to attempt to standardise sentences.
§ Major Legge-BourkeWhile welcoming what the Home Secretary has said, may I ask whether his attention has been called to the announcement in the Press in September that the T.U.C. were calling on all trades councils to tabulate any complaints they may have of this kind?
§ Mr. EdeI can see no objection to complaints being tabulated. I shall not attempt to standardise sentences.
§ Major Legge-BourkeDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is the duty of the T.U.C. to criticise the courts?
§ Mr. EdeAny citizen in this country, outside this House, appears to be able to criticise the courts.