§ 72. Mr. Parkinasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the wife of D. J. McCallum was informed that he had been discharged from the Army before serving detention and that she was not entitled to allowances, and that she has now been informed from Newcastle that he is about to be discharged and from Shepton Mallet that he is about to be court-martialled; if he is further aware that, on Mr. McCallum's discharge from Brixton Prison, no escort awaited him, and he was given civilian papers and told that he had completed all his sentence; and, in view of the administrative confusion over this case, whether he will order this man's release forthwith.
§ Mr. SoamesDriver McCallum was convicted of theft and sentenced by court-martial in February, 1957, to 140 days' imprisonment and discharge from the Army with ignominy. While serving his sentence he was granted compassionate leave from 1st March to 3rd April but 75W he did not return to prison until he was re-arrested on 7th December. During that time he was convicted by the civil power for another offence and served a term of imprisonment. I understand that he did not disclose to the police or prison authorities that he was a soldier absent from military custody and he was imprisoned and released as a civilian. He was married in October and his wife subsequently received marriage allowance in accordance with the Regulations from the date of his re-arrest until his discharge from the Army on 6th January this year. The effective date of discharge does not alter the sentence of imprisonment. McCallum completed his sentence this morning and has been released. It is not proposed to bring any further charge against him in regard to his failure to return to Shepton Mallet at the end of his compassionate leave.