§ Mr. BYLESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how he accounts for the recent increase of corporal punishment in the Royal Navy, it having been stated by him, in reply to a question on 20th September, 1909, that the actual number of canings in 1907 was under 1,000, whereas he now estimates the number inflicted in 1909 at 1,500, namely, at nearly 30 per cent. of the number of boys in the fleet; and, in view of this increase, whether he will reconsider his refusal to publish an annual return of such punishments?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)I am informed that the number of canings in 1907 was abnormally low and that there is no ground for supposing that the number in 1909 was above the average. In view of my hon. Friend's earnest desire for the publication of an annual return, I will inquire further as to the practicability of publishing such a return.
§ Mr. BYLESWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is getting a particularly bad type of boy in the Navy seeing that one out of every three has to be annually whipped?