§ 35. Mr. Palmerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the powers given him by the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, he will take steps to mitigate the sentence passed on Charles Arthur Dennis Parsons, aged 16, a married man and the father of a child, who, at the London Quarter Sessions on 18th January, 1949, was ordered four months' imprisonment, and on 4th March, 1949, three years' Borstal detention.
§ Mr. EdeNo, Sir. I can find no reason why this young man should be given specially early release from the sentence of Borstal training which the court thought it right to impose. The question of how long he will be detained will depend on his own conduct and the way in which he responds to the training provided for him.
§ Mr. PalmerWhile not asking my right hon. Friend to criticise this court, does he not think that this sentence is extremely harsh on this boy and quite out of keeping with the intentions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948?
§ Mr. EdeI do not see how I can reply to that question without expressing some views about the sentence, which I decline to do.