§ MR. T. F. RICHARDS (Wolverhampton, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he has any control over the methods of punishment adopted at Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall; whether he is aware that one form of punishment is flogging; and, seeing that this form of punishment is prohibited in the Army and Navy and is only allowed in His Majesty's prisons and that then the infliction is administered to criminals, he proposes to take steps to secure more humane methods by those responsible for the above school.
§ MR. RUNCIMANThe system of discipline, including the methods adopted for enforcing it, is one of the matters which is considered by the Board in determining as to the efficiency of the school. I think the hon. Member will find that prisons are not the only institutions in this country in which corporal punishment is permitted and I have no reason to suppose that the conduct of Queen Mary's Grammar School is wanting in humanity. As I have previously stated, the facts before the Board do not appear to call for any action on their part.
§ *MR. REESWith reference to the statement that corporal punishment is only allowed in prisons, may I ask if it is not only allowed, but is even popular, except with the immediate recipient, in English public schools.
§ MR. LUPTONIs it not the fact that in University College School and in most of the best managed public schools in England corporal punishment is not used?
§ [No Answer was returned.]