§ 44. Sir J. HASLAM (for Mr. POTTER)asked the Home Secretary if, having regard to the increasing number of burglaries and to the hardship and suffering caused to those affected thereby, he will introduce legislation making it a condition that, in conjunction with punishment inflicted upon the offenders, there shall be administered so many strokes of the cat as may be recommended by his medical advisers in such cases?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThere has been a large increase in recent years in cases of "breaking and entering," but the increase has been comparatively small in the particular crime of burglary, which is limited to entry of dwelling houses by night. A large number of offences of 315 housebreaking and shopbreaking are committed by persons, often young persons or children, who enter small houses or shops which are temporarily unoccupied and take small sums of money—often, for example, a few shillings from the gas meter. Of the persons found guilty in 1932 of breaking and entering, one-third were under 16 years of age and over one-half were under 21 years of age. I do not think the suggestion of my hon. Friend would be a suitable method of dealing with the situation.