§ 31. Mr. MERRIMANasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a recent resolution of the Manchester City Justices endorsing the opinion of the visiting committee of Manchester Prison and urging the necessity of providing premises in that prison to which adults and children may be remanded; and whether he proposes to take action in the matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, Sir, that resolution has been brought to my notice. The question of providing remand homes for untried prisoners is a difficult and important one, which so far as it relates to young persons has been brought prominently before the Departmental Committee which is about to report on the treatment of young offenders generally, and my consideration of the matter must await the Report of that Committee. I would, however, point out to my hon. Friend that under the provisions of Section 97 of the Children Act, 1908, a child under 14 cannot in any case be remanded to prison, nor can a young person between 14 and 16, unless he is certified to be of a depraved or unruly character.