§ 23. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of youths below 21 convicted of any crime at Glasgow Southern Court and the similar figures for the Glasgow Queen's Park Court?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe numbers of youths between the ages of 16 and 21 convicted at the Southern and Queen's Park Police Courts, Glasgow, during the years ended the 31st December, 1927, were respectively 1,462 and 151.
§ Mr. BUCHANANCan the right hon. Gentleman make an inquiry as to the great discrepancy between the two? Do the police treat those in one district differently from others?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am not aware of any differentiation.
§ Mr. BRIANTHow many of these lads have been actually sent to prison, and how many put on probation?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI could not say without notice.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the City of Glasgow great dissatisfaction is arising because of the differentiation between districts which are privileged districts in the way of wealth, and working-class districts, in the prosecution of youths?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI do not think there is any ground for supposing that there is differentiation as regards districts. My reports emphasise the fact that crimes or matters for which these people are dealt with are similar in both Courts.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIn view of the large discrepancy in the figures, will the right 198 hon. Gentleman not make a local inquiry as to the causes and see if anything can be done to stop the large number of arrests in the working-class districts?