§ MR. HENRY H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What is the number of children under the age of 14 years now undergoing sentences of imprisonment in Great Britain?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I could only obtain the exact figures asked for by means of a Circular to all the prisons, and by an examination of every commitment; but perhaps the Return given in Appendix 8 of the last Report of the Prison Commissioners will be sufficient for the purposes of the right hon. Gentleman. It shows that on the 31st of March, 1888, there were in prison 223 prisoners between 12 and 16. Of these a small proportion would be awaiting trial, and the number under 14 would probably be less than 100.
§ MR. HENRY H. FOWLERasked, if in case of imprisonment of young children the Home Secretary personally investigated the causes for which they had been incarcerated?
§ MR. MATTHEWSYes.