47. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the sentence of a child of nine and a half years in Glasgow to be sent to an industrial school till he reaches the age of sixteen for begging on Christmas Day; whether, according to the police evidence, the father was a decent hard working man trying to support a family of ten persons on 22s. a week; whether there are many other families in Glasgow and elsewhere which have a total income of less than 22s. a week; and whether, in view of the fact that the sentence was, in the circumstances, in the best interest of the child, and that nothing has been done in the interest of the other children in this and similar families who have not been convicted of begging, he will appoint a Committee or Commission to inquire into the minimum cost of living in various parts of the country, with special reference to the maintenance of a family in good health and physical efficiency?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have seen the account of this case given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland on Tuesday last. As regards the appointment of a Committee or Commission, I would remind my hon. Friend that an Inquiry into the cost of living is now in progress, and, although it does not cover quite the same ground as that now suggested, it is proposed to await the publication of the results of the present Inquiry before considering what further information may be necessary.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Inquiry being made by the Board of Trade.