§ Mr. LEACHasked the Home Secretary if his attention has bee' drawn to the sentence of four months' hard labour passed by the Burton-on-Trent bench on 31st January on Thomas Foster, aged 56, for stealing 3½d.; and if be will consider this case with a view t a reduction of the sentence?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have inquired very carefully into the facts of this case. On the same day that the police had chari-624W tably helped this man with money, he went to a licensed house and stole there-from a collecting box prominently marked as being for a charity, which turned out, however, to contain only 3½d. As regards the last part of the question, I have the case under consideration and will write to my hon. Friend.