25. Viscountess ASTORasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of recent sentences of imprisonment passed on boys under 18 years of age, he will introduce legislation at an early date to amend the Law in order to render such sentences illegal?
§ Mr. CLYNESSection 102 of the Children Act provides that no young person under 16 shall be committed to prison except when the Court gives a certificate of unruliness or depravity. The Young Offenders Committee recommended that this prohibition should be extended to young persons under 17, and this proposal will be submitted to Parliament in the Children Bill which is now in active preparation.
Viscountess ASTORCan the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects to bring forward the Children Bill?
§ Mr. CLYNESI cannot at present announce the date.