§ 20. Mr. LYONSasked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the position of parents to whom responsibility for penalties may be transferred by the Children Act; and whether, in order to prevent injustices, he proposes to introduce legislation to exempt from its operation convictions for offences under the Road Traffic Act by youthful drivers?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am not aware of any sufficient reason for distinguishing offences under the Road Traffic Act from other offences committed by young persons. I would point out that the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, to which the hon. 1035 Member refers, are re-enactments of provisions contained in the Act of 1908 and that the only change made by the Act of 1933 is the raising of the age of young persons from 16 to 17. I may add that the Act expressly provides that a parent or guardian may be made responsible for a fine imposed on a young person only where the Court is satisfied that the parent or guardian has conduced to the commission of the offence by neglecting to exercise due care of the young person.