§ MR. JENNINGSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware of the facts reported in the daily papers, that, on the 10th of February, upwards of forty summonses were heard at the Thames 901 Police Court against parents for not sending their children regularly to school; that the defendants were, in the majority of instances, women of the very poorest class, and that they pleaded their inability to send their children to school on account of illness, poverty, and want of proper clothes; that, nevertheless, fines were imposed in some cases, and that, in default of distress, imprisonment followed; and, whether he is now disposed, considering the great and unusual hardships to which the poor are at present subjected, to use his authority with the magistrates to procure a more merciful administration of the Law in these cases?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS)I have obtained a Report from the Chief Magistrate on the subject of summonses to parents for not sending their children to school. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that women are only by law entitled to appear for their husbands. I am assured that the Metropolitan Magistrates make a rule of always taking into their most careful consideration all extenuating circumstances, as poverty, illness, &c.; in fact, they are always being charged with too merciful an administration of the law. I see no reason to issue any special instructions.