§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children have, in their investigation of baby farming and its attendant infanticide, obtained and could supply to the Home Office, if necessary, a practically complete list of the London and Provincial newspapers which have inserted the advertisements of those who trade in unwanted children; and whether he will issue from the Home Office a Circular Letter to all such newspapers, drawing the attention of the publishers and editors to the improper use of their columns by such advertisements, and to the frequent cases of cruelty and death arising there from, and urging them to exclude, so far as possible, advertisements of this nature?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS, Birmingham, E.)The Society in question have not communicated to me a list; but, as I have already stated in my answer to the hon. Member's previous question on March 23, I do not see my way to interfere with advertisements of the class described. I am doubtful whether such a Circular would have any influence on the newspapers, even if I had the authority to issue it, these advertisements not being, as I have already stated, necessarily illegal.