§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a statement in the last Report of the Prison Commissioners for Scotland that a system of probation guardianship of criminal offenders is being introduced gradually, so far as the existing law allows, and with successful results, in the courts of some of the burghs and large cities, and especially in Dundee, whereby the operation of the sentence is suspended provided that the offender behaves well under supervision; and if he will consider whether it would not be practicable to introduce a similar system of probation in the Metropolis.
§ * MR. GLADSTONEThe matter has for some time been engaging my attention. The Metropolitan Magistrates already in many cases exercise their powers under the Summary Jurisdiction and First 650 Offenders Acts, and place criminal offenders under probation; but I am satisfied that further powers are required, and a Bill on the subject is now being prepared.