HC Deb 18 May 1936 vol 312 cc832-3
60. Mr. BERNAYS

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the number of children condemned by magistrates to corporal punishment has risen from 160 to 1932 to 211 in 1935, despite appeals from the Home Office to magistrates to limit the employment of this of punishment, he will introduce legislation to make corpal punishment illegal, as was the original intention of the Government when the Children's Act was introduced in 1932?

Mr. LLOYD

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to a similar question from the hon. Member for Rom-ford (Mr. Parker) on 26th March.

Mr. BERNAYS

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the complete investigation into the subsequent history of children punished in this way revealed the fact that 80 per cent. of them were subsequently brought up for other offences, and has not the time really come for action by the Home Office?