§ 56. Sir Charles Cayzerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case in a juvenile court where two boys aged 11 and 12 pleaded guilty to about 80 charges of housebreaking and larceny; and whether in such cases parents are admonished for lack of control and compelled to contribute substantially towards the maintenance of their children in approved schools?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)Inquiry has been made into these two cases. I find that each of these boys was in the care of a mother who is separated from her husband. One of the mothers is dependent partly on what she can earn as a charwoman arid partly on public assistance. The other mother works in a shop. The question whether in these cases the parents shall be ordered to contribute has yet to be considered by the court. It is within the power of the juvenile court to order the parent or guardian of a child charged with any offence to give security for his good behaviour and to make a contribution order on the parent of any child sent to an approved school, requiring the parent to contribute such weekly sum as the court, having regard to his means, thinks fit; and it is the common practice of juvenile courts in suitable cases to admonish parents as to their responsibilities.