§ 17. Sir J. Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum remission of sentence which could be earned under his rules by Albert Edward Matheson as a deduction from the sentence of 20 years' imprisonment recently passed on him.
§ Mr. RentonA prisoner may by good conduct and industry earn remission of one-third of his sentence, which on a sentence of 20 years would be 6 years and 8 months. Matheson has, however, been certified as a moral defective and has been removed to Rampton Hospital. The effect of this is that he will not be eligible for remission and that he cannot be discharged during the currency of his sentence, that is until 1978, without the Secretary of State's consent.
§ Sir J. HutchisonDoes my hon. and learned Friend realise that the knowledge that a man described by the Lord Chief Justice as "a monster" will not again be at liberty at the end of about 13 years will bring considerable relief to an anxious public?