§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case of a girl who, having been charged at the Marylebone Police Court with a petty offence was sent to a remand home, where, after being detained for a week, and on the day preceding her liberation by the magistrate under the Probation of Offenders Act, she was taken downstairs by a woman at the Home, who cropped off the girl's hair-close to her head; what and where is this Home; what is the name of the woman who committed the assault; and what does he propose to do in the matter.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have made inquiry as to this case. It occurred at the Pentonville Road Remand Home, established by the Metropolitan Asylums Board. It appears that the girl's hair was cut off by the house mother of the girls branch of the Home by direction of the visiting medical officer on account of its verminous condition. The medical officer explains that he gave the direction as he had been informed that the girl was to go to an Industrial Home. Had he known that this was not correct, he would not have given the order for the hair to be removed. In the circumstances 116 it does not seem to me necessary that I should take any further action in the matter.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the authorities of the Home, and specially to the medical officer, that in future no girl's hair shall be cut unless the magistrate has actually made an order?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI will bear the suggestion in mind. Everything that can be done to avoid a repetition of this Rape of the Lock will be done.