§ Mr. Radfordasked the Home Secretary how many persons sentenced to death, whose sentences had been commuted to penal servitude were released on licence during the period of five years ending 30th April, 1937; how many of such persons have been released on licence during the period of 23 months since 30th April, 1937; and what length of penal servitude was served in each case, prior to the release on licence?
§ Sir S. HoareThe answer to the first part of the question is 42, and to the second part, 21. As regards the third part of the question, each case is considered on its merits and the periods of detention varied from less than one year to 20 years.
4 had served over 15 years,
23 had served periods between 10 and 15 years,
19 had served periods between 5 and 10 years,
5 had served periods between 2½and 5 years, and
12 had served periods of less than 2½ years.
In the last group was a woman who was licensed immediately to go into a sanatorium and another who was licensed after three months.