§ Sir ROBERT HOBARTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he would arrange that all circulars issuing from the Home Office as to alterations in the Criminal Law, notably circulars relating to the Prison Act, 1898, and the Prevention of Crimes Act, 1908, were sent to each magistrate individually instead of, as now, either to the clerk of the peace or clerks of the justices, so as to prevent misunderstanding amongst magistrates as to recent alterations of the Criminal Law which they had to administer, either in petty or quarter sessions?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI am afraid I cannot undertake to do what my hon. Friend suggests. It would not, I think, be practicable to send a copy of every such circular to every magistrate. The circulars referred to in the question were sent to all chairmen and deputy-chairmen of quarter sessions, and copies can always be obtained by any magistrate on application to the Home Office.