§ SIR JOHN GORST (Cambridge University)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of children under twelve years of age dealt with per annum in the twenty-two Police Courts of the Metropolis during the last three years; the number of industrial schools under his control for boys and girls respectively; the numbers of boys and girls respectively who can be accommodated in them; and the total numbers of boys and girls respectively at present committed to industrial schools.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) Figures can be given only as to children dealt with on arrest; persons dealt with on summons are not classified according to age. The numbers of children under twelve dealt with on arrest in the Metropolitan Police District have been as follows:—
| Summarily convicted, held to bail, etc., or committed for trial. | Discharged. | |
| 1901 | 409 | 298 |
| 1902 | 397 | 312 |
| 1903 | 405 | 263 |
§ There are eighty-one industrial schools for boys, fifty-four for girls, and four for boys and girls. The number of children which can be accommodated is 13,930 boys and 4,656 girls. 13,513 boys and 4,281 girls are now under sentence of detention, but some of these are out on licence or in auxiliary homes, the number actually in the schools being 12,520 boys and 4,059 girls.