§ SIR E. SASSOONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the prevalence of crimes committed by boys between the ages of twelve and fifteen, he would consider the expediency of instituting an inquiry into the working and provisions of the Youthful Offenders Act.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.The statistics of committals to prisons and to reformatory schools suggest a decrease rather than an increase in crimes by boys under sixteen. It may be that magistrates have not made so much use as was hoped of some of the provisions of the Youthful Offenders Act; but I do not think that any formal inquiry into the working of the Act is necessary. Magistrates have various moans of dealing with youthful offenders, and further assistance will be put at their disposal by the Probation of Offenders Bill now before this House, but it must be left to the magistrates to decide which is the best method in any given case.