§ 45. Mr. MURNINasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the Notice of Motion given for an early day by the hon. Member for Dundee on the administration of the First Offenders Act in Scotland and on the necessity of drawing the attention of the sheriffs to the provisions of the Statute; and whether he proposes to find time for discussion of the Motion?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I see no prospect of special facilities being given for this discussion.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that girls of 16 years of age for a first offence have been sent to prison for taking a small quantity of coal from the pit-head? Cannot he take steps to acquaint the Sheriffs of Scotland with the provisions of the First Offenders Act?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat, of course, is not my business. The business of the House is so congested that it is impossible to find time to discuss the Motion. I might recommend to the hon. Member, if there is something he thinks is wrong, to put it to the Secretary for Scotland.