§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiraly whether the punishments of birching and caning and other summary punishments inflicted on boys in the Royal Navy in 1903, the year for which term is the last Return, amounting to 9,553 punishments awarded summarily and seven punishments awarded after trial by Courts-martial, include the punishments of birching and caning and other summary punishments on the 4,293 boys and youths in the twelve naval training ships, including the 100 boys and youths temporarily embarked in other ships; and if the punishments inflicted on these boys and youths are not included in the Return what is the reason of the omission, and will any Return of these punishments be presented.
§ MR PRETYMANThe punishments awarded to boys as shown in the Return for 1903 include the training service punishments. The number 4,293 refers to the boys and youths now borne, and not to those borne in 1903.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Will not the Government consider the propriety of abolishing this disgraceful punishment?
§ [No Answer was returned.]