§ MR. J. A. PEASE (Essex, Saffron Walden)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences have been passed on adults under which those sentenced have been directed to receive strokes with the birch during the last twelve months, and on what occasions.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) The Returns for 1903 have not yet all been received, and I cannot therefore answer the Question as regards the last twelve months. In 1902 the number of persons above the age of sixteen sentenced to be birched was four. Three were cases under The Garrotters Act, 1863, and one was a case under The Vagrancy Act, 1824.