§ 48. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that parents have been charged along with their children in recent cases heard in the juvenile court at Bellshill; and whether he will take steps to end this practice, which inflicts indignity upon the persons concerned?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. T. M. Cooper)I am not aware of the particular cases referred to; but I would point out to the hon. Member that the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Acts, 1908 to 1932, expressly provide for the attendance at court of the parents or guardians of juvenile offenders and empower the court to impose on them pecuniary penalties or to require them to find security for the juvenile offender's good behaviour.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs the Lord Advocate aware that this is not a question of summoning the parents to attend the court, but a question of placing the parents in the dock with the children and charging the parents with a separate offence, which was done in the particular case to which I am referring?
§ Mr. COOPERIf the hon. Member will be so good as to send me particulars of the case, I shall be glad to consider them.