§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derby, Ilkeston)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, The result of his inquiries into the case of James Smith Buckbury, aged seven years, of Ilkeston, who was sentenced, on 11th July, at Ripley Petty Sessions, to receive four strokes of a birch rod for 31 stealing a watch; whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the conduct of the police officer or officers who inflicted the punishment, and take steps to prevent the administration of such punishment for the future to delicate children; and, whether the instrument used for birching children of seven years is the same as for older offenders?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)in reply, said, the officer who, in pursuance of a magisterial order, whipped the boy referred to, did so in the presence of the Inspector, his wife, and a Mrs. Knight, who attended at the request of the boy's mother. Mrs. Knight did not consider the punishment severe, and saw the boy well, and walking about half-an-hour afterwards. On the 25th instant he was examined by the Senior Surgeon of the County Infirmary, who reported him to be quite well. He (Mr. Matthews) proposed to issue a Circular, directing that before children were whipped, if there was any reason to suppose they were in delicate health, a medical man should be consulted as to the propriety of administering the punishment, and that the rod should be lighter for children than that used for other offenders.