§ 55. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Home Secretary whether the Home Office exercises power to inspect voluntary institutions to which children are sent on probation by the courts?
§ Mr. CLYNESThere is no authority given me by Statute for the inspection of all homes to which children may be sent as a condition of probation. The only powers I have to inspect voluntary homes (other than reformatory and industrial schools) are conferred by Section 25 of the Children Act. These powers are exercised where the circumstances appear to render it desirable. The Adoption Committee in its third report issued in 1926 made proposals for strengthening Section 25 and these are being considered in connection with a Bill to amend the Children Act.
§ 56. Mr. MALONEasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case in which the headmaster of the Boys' Home and Phillipson Farm Colony, near Stannington, Northumberland, was sentenced to a fine for ill-treating a boy of 14 who had been sent to the colony on probation from a children's court, by keeping him in solitary confinement and on bread and water in a room without furniture or bed for five days and nights, and beating him; whether he is aware that the headmaster has been retained in his post and publicly supported by his committee; how many children have been placed at this institution at the instance of children's courts, and how many are still there; whether an Exchequer grant is being paid, and, if so, whether he will consider the withdrawal of the grant; and whether any other institutions run by the Poor Children's Homes Association are receiving Exchequer grants for the maintenance of children sent there by the courts?
§ Mr. CLYNESYes, Sir. As soon as my attention was drawn to this matter I caused inquiries to be made and arranged for two inspectors of the 1029 Children's Branch to visit the colony. I understand that the master has resigned. I am informed that four boys have been sent to the colony this year as a condition of probation, two (aged 16) by the Newcastle magistrates, and two (one aged 17 and one aged 14) by the Gateshead magistrates. No grant is paid to the colony by the Home Office. A home in Newcastle belonging to the same association is used as a remand home by the Newcastle authorities, and half of the expenditure so incurred is borne by the Home Office. The inspectors formed the opinion that the master and his staff were doing their best to cope with a difficult problem and that some of the boys were too unruly to be dealt with suitably there. I am taking up this aspect of the matter with the authorities in question.
§ Mr. MALONEDoes this case not show the urgent need for taking the powers recommended in the report of the Departmental Committee on the Treatment of Young Offenders?