§ 42. Sir WILLIAM BYLESasked the Home Secretary whether two sentences of fifteen strokes with the birch in addition to nine months' imprisonment were passed under the Vagrancy Act at the London Sessions on 7th May; whether he has noticed the recent marked increase in the number of floggings ordered by magistrates under this ancient Statute; whether it is the policy of the Home Office to discourage and restrict the powers of flogging thus given to magistrates which Sir Matthew White Ridley, when Home Secretary, proposed to withdraw; and whether he can hold out any hope that the matter 294 will be dealt with by legislation or otherwise?
§ Mr. McKENNATwo incorrigible rogues were sentenced under the Vagrancy Act, as stated in the question, the latest of the offences proved against them being persistent solicitation by a male person for immoral purposes. With regard to the increase in the number of cases under the Vagrancy Act in which whipping has been ordered and the way in which such case's as have been brought under my notice have been dealt with, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 1st May. I maintain the policy of my predecessors in objecting to whipping as a sentence for such offences as begging or sleeping out, but the present case is quite different. I have no intention at present of proposing legislation on the subject.