§ MR. BALLANTINE (Coventry)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a case recently heard at the Coventry Police Court, in which it was proved that the matron of the Industrial School, Leicester Street, a school under Government inspection, had flogged a girl named Lee, aged 15, illegally and under disgraceful conditions, before the whole school; whether he will direct a prosecution to be instituted against the matron by the Public Prosecutor; and whether, pending prosecution or inquiry, the matron will be removed from the conduct of the school?
MR. NEWDIGATE (Warwick, Nuneaton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of the girl, Emma Lee, who on Saturday, 27th May, was brought before the Coventry City Magistrates for running away from the Coventry Leicester Street, Industrial School; whether he is aware that, according to the regulations of that school, girls are liable to be flogged before the whole school in a partially nude condition; whether this punishment was inflicted on Emma Lee; and whether he will make strong representations to those responsible for the management of the school that any regulations which may at present permit of such a punishment being inflicted should be forthwith cancelled?
§ MR. ASQUITHI have directed the Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools to make a full inquiry into all the circumstances of this case, and to furnish me without delay with a special Report. As soon as I am in possession of the Report, I shall take such action as appears to be required.