§ Mr. Wylieasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is aware that Joseph Anthony Campbell Stewart was convicted in the Aberdeen Sheriff Court on a charge of assault and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment; whether, in view of this conviction, his release on licence under Section 27 of the Prison Act 1952 will be revoked; and if Stewart will be detained in prison under the former sentence when the latter sentence ha, expired;
(2) how long Joseph Anthony Campbell Stewart served in prison before he was released on licence under Section 27 of the Prison Act 1952; whether he was under any supervision at the time of committing the crime of which he was convicted in December, 1967 in Aberdeen Sheriff Court; and on what grounds he was released on licence after such a short period of imprisonment.
§ Mr. TaverneStewart was released when he had served a little over 18 months. My right hon. Friend's predecessor was satisfied, after consultation of the Lord Chief Justice and the trial judge as required by the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965, that Stewart's part in the murder of which he was convicted was sufficiently minor to justify his release on licence after an exception ally short period. It was a condition of Stewart's release that he placed himself under supervision by the Scottish238W After-Care Service. The question whether it would be appropriate to revoke his life licence, in view of his recent conviction and sentence of eight months' imprisonment, is under consideration.