§ Mr. WHITELEYasked the Home Secretary whether, with regard to the resolution he has received from the Cramlington Urban District Council asking him to reconsider the case of the Cramlington men now in prison, in view of the previous good characters of the men, the abnormal conditions and intense excitement prevailing at the time of the offence, and the absence of criminal mind and intentions, he proposes to accede to the request in view of this expression of opinion from the local authority for the area?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have carefully considered the resolution passed by the Cramlington Urban District Council, appealing on behalf of the Cramlington men who were sentenced to penal servitude at the Newcastle Assizes in June, 1926, for attempts to wreck a train. I am glad to observe that the Council state in their resolution that they do not in any way condone the offence or wish to minimise the gravity of such actions. The Court took a serious view of the offence and sentenced these men to terms of penal servitude ranging from four to eight years, of which less than two years have been served. I regret that I would not feel justified in advising any interference with these sentences.