HC Deb 10 May 1883 vol 279 cc401-2
SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will delay the withdrawal of the Metropolitan Police from the districts protected under the Contagious Diseases Acts until Parliament has been enabled to decide on the Bill for the protection of young girls announced to be brought forward by the Government?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

, in reply, said, he was afraid that the course suggested by the hon. Gentleman would not be consistent with the view which the Government had taken. The Government wanted to carry out strictly the recommendations of the Lords' Committee. A Bill would be introduced into the House of Lords, the effect of which, it was hoped, would be to diminish the serious evils of juvenile prostitution. That was not the direct or immediate object of the Contagious Diseases Acts, though the administration of those Acts have tended indirectly to that object.

In answer to further Questions from Sir H. DRUMMOND WOLFF and Mr. PULESTON,

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

said, that, in order not to terminate the operation of the Acts too abruptly, the withdrawal of some of the Inspectors would be postponed.

MR. PULESTON

asked whether orders to that effect had been given?

[No reply was given.]