§ MR. HOPWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the fact that one or two more surgeons employed in the compulsory examination of prostitutes under the Contagious Diseases Acts have been made justices of the peace, in order that they may carry out the Acts in a twofold capacity, administering and executing the Law; whether he will state by what Minister such gentlemen were recommended to Her Majesty for appointment; whether he approves of such a confusion of duties; and, whether the individuals in question should not be called upon to make their choice in respect of those Acts to act either as magistrates or as surgeons only?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI have been previously asked a similar Question by my hon. and learned Friend. If he has any grounds for thinking that the persons he refers to have been improperly appointed, or that they have misconducted themselves, and if he will state such grounds, I will cause the subject to be inquired into. I have no knowledge whatever that the appointments in question have been complained of.
§ MR. HOPWOODreminded the right hon. and learned Gentleman that he had written to him naming three individuals at Devonport, Windsor, and Southampton acting as magistrates, and he asked whether they ought to perform these double functions; and, if so, whether that state of things was compatible with the Public Service?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTsaid, he would make inquiry. He understood from his hon. and learned. Friend that these persons ought not to fulfil the duties he spoke of; but that must depend upon the nature of the duties, as to which he could not give an opinion until he had inquired.
§ MR. HOPWOODDouble duty.
§ MR. CARBUTTasked the right hon. and learned Gentleman, in reference to his answer to the Question of the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Stockport, whether they were to understand that due inquiry would be made into that matter; and, if it were found that the gentlemen referred to were acting in the double capacity, he would ex- 1876 press an opinion that that should not continue, inasmuch as there was an appeal under the Acts for an unfortunate woman from the examining surgeon to a justice of the peace, and here they would be the same person?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTrenewed his assurance that inquiry would be instituted. In any event some communications must pass before coming to any decision.