§ 1. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to make a comprehensive statement on the results, to date, of the Coronation amnesty for deserters.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence (Mr. Nigel Birch)Up to 30th June 2,625 applications for the amnesty had been received and 2,407 protection certificates had been issued. 1216 The latter figure includes 520 men who were given the benefit of the amnesty, in accordance with the concession announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary on 1st April.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIn view of the fact that the proportion of those who have applied is rather disappointingly small, will the Parliamentary Secretary make it clear that the amnesty offer is still open, that there is no date by which they have got to apply otherwise the amnesty offer comes to an end? Will he also say whether consideration has been given by the Government to extending the amnesty backwards to those who may have deserted before September, 1939?
§ Mr. BirchIt is true that the amnesty as announced is still open. It is very difficult to say how many there are eligible because nobody, in the nature of the case, knows how many there are in this country. There can be no question of extending the amnesty.