§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the Attorney General whether his attention has been drawn to the practical extension of the criminal law through the enactment of bye-laws by local authorities in other than sanitary matters, and especially to the novel and extended exercise recently of the power to make bye-laws for good rule and government conferred by Section 23 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, and by Section 16 of the 952 Local Government Act, 1888; and whether, having regard to the fact that, in the year 1895 no fewer than 74,703 persons were committed to prison in default of payment of fines, out of a total number of 142,579 persons committed to prison, he will consider whether it woud be advisable to impose further restrictions on the creation of new criminal offences by bye-law?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER,) Isle of WightMy attention has not been called to the matter referred to in the Question of the hon. Member, but I understand that the Home Office insist on all bye-laws being submitted in draft, that they are carefully examined and criticised, and that the Secretary of State constantly requires the withdrawal of bye-laws which appear likely to be oppressive or too stringent in their operation. I am not prepared, upon the information before me, to say that any further restrictions are necessary.