§ 64. Mr. BOOTHasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to a recent case in which black men and white women were concerned and children of tender years were called by the police as witnesses; and whether the Home Office takes any steps in such cases to protect these children from sinking into a life of depravity?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have not heard of any case which answers to the description given in my hon. Friend's question.
§ Mr. BOOTHIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the case was reported fully in some of the Sunday newspapers in London—Conservative newspapers—and that the judge in the case spoke very strongly about the position of the little girl, twelve years of age, who has been left in these surroundings?
§ Mr. McKENNANo. I have looked further into the matter, but I have not been able to trace the case so far. I regret to say that I do not read the newspapers referred to.
§ 65. Mr. BOOTHasked the Home Secretary if he will constitute a special inquiry into the causes and possible prevention of juvenile depravity, particularly in the Metropolis?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not think that a special inquiry such as my hon. Friend suggests could give any real assistance in dealing with this question.
§ Mr. BOOTHIn view of the Home Office doing nothing, will they not consider it their duty at any rate to get acquainted with the facts, which are deplorable.
§ Mr. McKENNAMy hon. Friend must not assume, because we do not propose to have a special inquiry that we are doing nothing.
§ 66. Mr. BOOTHasked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the recent case of a boy who was transferred from the Penton-ville place of detention to a hospital suffering from venereal disease; and will he say if the boy is under twelve years of age, and what action the police have taken, if any, in this case?
§ Mr. McKENNAI find on inquiry that this is a case in which proceedings were instituted by an officer of the London County Council, and not by the police. The boy is, I believe, under twelve years of age, but the police have not any further particulars of the case.
§ 67. Mr. BOOTHasked the Home Secretary if an application was recently made before Mr. Horace Smith for the arrest of a, boy, J. S., of Putney; whether an officer under the Children Act has since charged the boy for wandering; whether his mother has been reported to the authorities as an habitual prostitute, and if his stepfather lives with her and has no visible means of subsistence; whether the boy is being trained for a life of vice and now uses filthy language in ordinary conversation; and if he will inquire with a view to recommending the police to take action?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed that this case is still before the Court, and that so far as the police are aware there is no ground for the suggestion that the boy's mother is a prostitute, or that he is being trained for a life of vice.
§ Mr. BOOTHWas not the application for the arrest of the boy made by his own stepfather, who is a member of the legal profession?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will inquire into the case if my hon. Friend wishes. I am not aware of the fact which he states.