HC Deb 17 June 1915 vol 72 cc907-8

Resolution reported,

"That a sum, not exceeding £63,135, be granted to His Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1916, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Prison Commissioners for Scotland, and of the Prisons under their control, including the Maintenance of Criminal Lunatics, Defectives, and Inmates of the State Inebriate Reformatory, and the Preparation of Judicial Statistics."

Resolution read a second time.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution."

Mr. PRICE

I should like to call the attention of the Secretary for Scotland to a question which arises under this Vote, and perhaps he may find himself able to adopt a suggestion. The question is with regard to the treatment of first offenders in Scotland. I am sorry to find that in the number of persons charged with first offences there is a considerably larger proportion in Scotland than in England or Wales. The Commissioners have, for a number of years, in their Reports, called attention to the fact that a good many magistrates are committing those people to prison, without due consideration for the Acts which have recently been passed to enable prisoners to pay their fines or to deal with them in other ways, so that they will not so readily commit first offenders to prison as they have been in the habit of doing. I think it would help to materially reduce the number of those commitments if the right hon. Gentleman would issue a circular letter to all the magistrates and judges in Scotland calling attention to the fact that there has been so much legislation of late passed in favour of those first offenders, and if he would point out how very desirable it is to keep them from being sent to prison. This, in my judgment, is a very serious matter, and it is rather a reflection on Scotland There are, I am told, more than double the commitments to prison in proportion to population than in England and Wales. I think a good deal of it arises from the fact that many magistrates have not taken advantage of the powers conferred upon them. If the right hon. Gentlemn can do something to call attention to these cases, I am quite sure he will render a very distinct service to Scotland.

Mr. WATT

In the circular which has been mentioned the right hon. Gentleman might suggest to the magistrates that the fines can be paid by instalment, as was done by Lord Gladstone when he was Home Secretary.

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I quite agree with my hon. Friend that the proportion of cases is larger in Scotland than in England. It is a practice that ought to be discouraged, and I will take into sympathetic consideration my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Question put, and agreed to.