Mr. BOTTOM LEYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state from what quarters he obtained information as to the working of the Public-house Clause of the Children Act; whether, before arriving at a conclusion as to its beneficial results, he obtained any statistics as to the accidents which have occurred to children through being left unattended outside licensed premises; and whether his attention has been drawn to the comments of various coroners and stipendiary magistrates to the effect that the Clause in question has done more harm than good?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)My opinion was based upon the reports of police officers engaged in enforcing the Act in London and elsewhere, upon whose judgment I rely. Particular attention was given to the question of the dangers to which children may be exposed by being left outside licensed premises. I am aware-that in one or two cases magistrates and others have said in their haste that the Section in question has done more harm than good, but, on a general survey of the matter, these isolated instances assume their proper place and proportions.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYDo I gather that the information of the right hon. Gentleman is based entirely upon reports of the police officers?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI will not go so far as to say entirely. That would cut me off from all other channels of information, but that is the responsible basis of the information that I gave some time ago to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYHas the right hon. Gentleman inquired from any other source except police officers?
Mr. CHURCH ILLI am not able to base my answer at the moment except on the authority of the police officers who were specially sent to make inquiries.