§ 55. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that a boy, Thomas Lennie, residing at 16, Salisbury Street, Glasgow, was at the Glasgow Sheriff Court in August sentenced to six stripes of the birch rod for stealing pigeons, having previously been in similar trouble; that the boy was under the care of the Glasgow Education Authority doctor previously; that he was minus a leg, lost a year before; and that since then he has been removed to Rushill Hospital, due to illness partly caused by the birch; and whether the proper medical examination took place before the punishment was applied?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThomas Lennie was charged, along with another boy, at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 31st August, 1927, with breaking into three stables and stealing various articles and seven 406 pigeons. Lennie, who had twice previously been convicted of theft, pled guilty and was sentenced to six stripes of the birch rod. Lennie was medically examined on attending the school clinic in February, 1927, but further medical attention was precluded by his failure to return to the clinic. I am informed that Lennie lost a leg some years ago. Lennie was admitted to Rushill Sanatorium Hospital on the 16th October, and I am satisfied that the suspected illness had no connection with the punishment imposed by the Court in August. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWas this boy medically examined apart from the question of his failure to turn up? Is it not a duty imposed by Act of Parliament that he should be medically examined before they start to apply the birch to a young boy?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have already answered the hon. Member. All the proper steps were taken.
§ Mr. BUCHANANDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that it can be defended that a boy, not 16 years of age, who lost a leg a year ago, should be birched in a Glasgow Court? I beg to give notice that I intend to raise this question at the earliest possible moment.