HC Deb 12 May 1902 vol 107 cc1354-5
MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will assent to the Return (Crime in England) standing on today's Paper.†

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

No, Sir. The contents of the proposed Return appear to be very similar to what I felt obliged to refuse a few days ago. The hon. Member may, however, like to know that much of the information asked for will be found (though in a somewhat different form) in the Criminal Statistics for England and Wales when the volume for 1901 is published. The material already furnished for the statistics has involved an enormous amount of labour to the police, and, apart from other considerations, I cannot ask them to supply further Returns covering the same ground.

MR. MACVEAGH

Is there any objection to giving quarterly Returns of crime in England in the same way as it is done in Ireland?

* MR. RITCHIE

As I have said, I do not propose to make any amendment or alteration or addition to the Returns now given.