§ 34. Mr. Dobbieasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the presiding magistrates at a recent sitting of the York juvenile court, when a boy was ordered to be birched; and whether he will circularise magistrates as to the undesirability of inflicting such punishment on juveniles?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI have no information about the particular case to which my hon. Friend refers. On the general question of policy, the recent Committee on 556 Corporal Punishment came unanimously to the conclusion that as a court penalty corporal punishment is not a suitable or effective method of dealing with young offenders, and that opinion is supported by the most experienced juvenile courts. In any circular to magistrates on the subject of the treatment of juvenile offenders I will bear in mind the suggestion that mention should be made of this point.