asked the Minister of Defence whether on the occasion of the forthcoming marriage of Princess Elizabeth, he will grant a measure of relief to men classified as deserters, and will recommend a remission of the sentences of men already imprisoned, and some easement and relaxation of the regulations governing the surrender of those still at large.

No, Sir. I would remind my hon. Friend that last January the Government made an offer to deserters who would surrender by 31st March last. The response was, in some respects, disappointing, but it was made quite clear at the time that the Government were not prepared to go further. To do so would be unfair to those who have already surrendered and been punished, and also to those who have served loyally throughout their period in the Forces. The fact that a deserter has surrendered voluntarily is always taken into account at his trial; sentences imposed on deserters are, of course, reviewed from time to time under the normal procedure.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that is a most disappointing answer? If my right hon. Friend is not prepared to make a gesture on the lines which I have indicated, and if these men are to be written off as criminals, what solution does he envisage for this very vexed problem?

They are certainly not by any means written off as criminals.

Of course, they are.

I have examined this matter in great detail many times. First of all, the number of men involved is large. As for a great number of them, we do not know whether they are dead, or exactly where they are. We know that some of them are in Eire and are, therefore, not likely to be available for production here. Generally speaking, in view of the great number of men who are continuously coming back, I do not think the problem is anything like as big as has been indicated by hon. Members, and to give a further concession would make a very serious inroad on the discipline and morale of the troops.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the harsh sentences which have already been imposed upon those who have surrendered are deterring others from surrendering?

I would like to make that point perfectly clear. The Secretary of State for War at the time, indicated that there would be continuous revision of those sentences, and I can say here and now that the sentences were not over harsh. But where, in special cases, they were longer than in others, they have been reviewed; in some cases they have been suspended and in others they have been reduced. Only in a small proportion of cases have men who have surrendered voluntarily served more than six months' detention.

In order that the House may understand the Government's policy, can the right hon. Gentleman indicate how many men have, in fact, given themselves up since the statement which he made?

I gave the House the figure last week.