§ MR. JOHN DEWAR (Inverness)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been directed to the fact that there are sixty-six lads sentenced by Edinburgh magistrates at present inmates of the Wellington Reformatory, and that application has been made to the Home Secretary for authority to discharge these lads, in respect that the Town Council of Edinburgh refuses to contribute towards their maintenance; and whether, in view of the statement of one of the sheriff substitutes that the Reformatory Act is a dead letter in Edinburgh, and that the Judges of the city are prevented from inflicting the only sentence which promises any permanent good to the criminal, he is prepared to take such 950 steps as may be necessary to remedy these matters.
In putting the Question the hon. Member asked further if it was the fact that a boy had already been discharged from the Reformatory, because of the refusal of the magistrates to pay the cost of his maintenance, although his sentence of five years had not expired. Would the right hon. Gentleman take steps—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That should be the subject of a separate Question.
§ THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SCOTT DICKSON,) Glasgow, BridgtonPerhaps I may be allowed to answer the Question on the Paper. I am aware of the position of matters in Edinburgh referred to by the hon. Member. The Secretary for Scotland has made repeated representations during the last twelve months to the Town Council drawing their attention to the responsibility they are incurring in regard to the maintenance of Edinburgh children in reformatories. I understand from my right hon. friend the Home Secretary that as responsible for the administration of the Reformatory Acts he has also been in communication both with the Town Council and with the Wellington Reformatory managers, and that there is some prospect of an arrangement being reached which will obviate any necessity for taking any steps as proposed by the hon. Member.