§ 10. Mr. LOGANasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of six Liverpool youths who were sentenced at Conway Police Court, on 23rd May, to one month's imprisonment each for escaping from the Conway Poor Law institution instead of staying in the institution until permitted to leave; and, as they have never been in gaol before, will he inquire into the case with a view to remission of the sentences?
§ Sir H. SAMUELI have made inquiry into this case, which had not previously been brought to my notice, and I find no reason for recommending the remission of the sentences passed on any of the six youths, all of whom had committed several previous offences..
§ Mr. LOGANAm I to take it that, in cases in which there has been no previous commitment, youths are sent to prison for the simple offence of breaking out of a workhouse?
§ Sir H. SAMUELSome of these youths have been dealt with under the Probation of Offenders Act several times. One has been dealt with six times and fined six times, and others have been repeatedly dealt with under the Probation of Offenders Act; and the Court thought that in this case it was necessary to pass this sentence.
§ Mr. LOGANIs it not a fact that these boys have only been guilty of playing football in the streets, and have never been in prison before?
§ Sir H. SAMUELNo, Sir; some of the offences were quite serious ones.