§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to secure to children the full advantage of the Children Act, he would cause a circular letter to be sent from the Home Office to all newspaper editors suggesting that there should be no reports published of cases in juvenile courts?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Gladstone)The Act expressly provides for the admission of Press representatives in juvenile courts; and I do not think I could advise such a circular as the hon. Member suggests. A certain measure of publicity for the proceedings of courts of justice seems to me desirable, and this no less for juvenile courts than for others. I should view with considerable apprehension a state of things in which no notice was taken in the public Press of the mode in which delinquent children were dealt with 1153 by the courts of summary jurisdiction; but I am sure the Press would generally refrain from publishing the names of children in special cases where the magistrates might express an opinion that it was unnecessary and undesirable.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODCould my right hon. Friend suggest to the magistrates that the children's names should be kept out of the newspapers?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEIf it is shown that such a circular is desirable I should be pleased to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.
§ Mr. RENDALLWill the right hon. Gentleman send a circular round to the magistrates on this point?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEYou cannot send circulars round on every point.