§ 17. Mr. STRANGERasked the Home Secretary what steps, if any, his Department takes to review sentences of children sentenced to industrial schools; and what steps, if any, he takes to separate those sentenced for criminal or moral offences from others?
Mr. HENDERSONAs the answer is somewhat long, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The progress of children sent to industrial schools is constantly reviewed by the managers, who are well aware of the views of the Home Office that children should be licensed to their homes or otherwise as soon as such a course can be adopted with advantage to the children. Applications from parents for the discharge of their children are carefully investigated by the Home Office, but it may be added that there has been a remarkable decrease in recent years in the number of such applications. Experience shows that often no distinction can be drawn between children who have been found wandering or otherwise suffering from neglect and those who have committed petty offences, but a child who is found to exercise a bad influence would be transferred to another school more suitable for the particular type of child. The question of further classification of the schools is under consideration. If the hon. Member would care to visit some schools and ascertain the facts for himself I shall be glad to make arrangements.