§ 37. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the case of Barry Arthur Foster.
§ Mr. MellorMr. Foster was convicted of two offences in 1977. The Home Office was informed by the Director of Public Prosecutions in 1981 that another man had confessed to one of the two offences. Mr. Foster's case was then fully and promptly considered. A free pardon was recommended in respect of the offence to which the other man had confessed. The other man had not, however, confessed to—nor was there any evidence that he was involved in—the other offence of which Mr. Foster had been convicted; and no grounds were found to justify the granting of a free pardon in respect of that offence. Mr. Foster subsequently applied for leave to appeal against both convictions, and the Court of Appeal quashed them both.