§ MR. ADDERLEYsaid, the noble Lord (Lord Palmerston) had given great satisfaction, and raised the greatest expecta- 782 tion, by undertaking to pass, this Session, a Bill for the promotion and establishment of juvenile reformatories; he therefore wished the noble Lord would have the kindness to inform him of the state of preparation of that Bill, and the time when it was likely to be introduced into the House.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, he was unable to state the time when he should be able to bring in the Bill. It was one which would require a good deal of consideration and deliberation. He might state, however, that he hoped to be able to increase the number of youthful offenders sent to the Red-Hill voluntary establishment; and if he were able to take advantage of the voluntary efforts of any other institutions, he should be very desirous of doing so. He thought the hon. Gentleman concurred with him in the opinion that the more the Government co-operated with voluntary institutions, the better the result would be; because it was very desirable that young persons sent to those establishments should, as far as possible, be divested of that exclusively criminal character which would be detrimental to their future prospects. He could assure the hon. Gentleman he had not lost sight of the matter; and whilst endeavouring to co-operate with voluntary institutions, that would not prevent his endeavouring to arrange some general measure for the purpose in view.