§ 29. Mr. LAWSONasked the Home Secretary whether the three 16-year-old boys now serving three months' imprisonment in Durham Prison, as the result of a sentence by the South Shields bench, were first offenders?
§ Sir H. SAMUELThese boys had not previously been convicted of any offence; but as I indicated in reply to a question by the hon. Member on Thursday last, they admitted a series of thefts over a period of months and cannot therefore properly be described as first offenders.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs it not admitted by the right hon. Gentleman that this was the first time these boys had been before a Court, and is he still prepared to let them remain in prison in company with numerous old offenders?
§ Sir H. SAMUELIt must not be assumed that every person who is charged with an offence for the first time is not to receive punishment.
§ Mr. LAWSONBut is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to defend boys of 16 who are in for a first offence being—