§ VISCOUNT FOLKESTONEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Why, in a recent case of the abuse of a child of nine years of age, the police permitted the offender to escape from England without endeavouring to bring him to justice; whether he will cause inquiries to be made why no prosecution was instituted by the police authorities; and, whether he will give instructions that in future the police shall take the necessary steps to prevent such a failure of justice; or, if the police have no jurisdiction in such cases, whether he will state who is the proper person to undertake prosecutions in matters of this kind?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTThis matter is now under investigation. I have not got the facts properly before me, and it would be premature for me to express an opinion on them.