§ MR. FLOWER (Bradford, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the number of children between the ages of twelve and sixteen years of age who were arrested for drunkenness in England and Wales during the years 1899 and 1900.
§ *MR. RITCHIEI can only give the number of arrests which resulted in convictions—namely, in 1899, seventeen; twelve boys and five girls. The figures for 1900 are not yet complete.
§ MR. FLOWERI beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, if he can state the number of children between the ages of twelve and sixteen years of age arrested for drunkenness in Scotland during the year 1900.
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATE (MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireI regret to say that I am informed by the Prison Commissioners for Scotland that it is not possible to give the hon. Member the information he desires without reference to the police authorities, but if he will renew his question in the course of ten days I shall undertake to let him have it.
§ MR. FLOWERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of children between the ages of twelve and sixteen years of age arrested for drunkenness in Ireland during the year 1900.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM.) DoverThere were eight children within the limits of age mentioned convicted of drunkenness in Ireland in 1900. I am not aware how many arrests were made in that period; if my hon. friend desires information on that point it will be necessary to make local inquiries throughout Ireland, and this would occupy some little time.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)Is there any evidence as to the houses at which the children got the drink?
§ [No answer was returned.]
§ MR. EUGENE WASON (Clackmannan. and Kinross)How many were boys and how many girls?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI cannot say.