HC Deb 28 November 1947 vol 444 cc2353-5

Considered in Committee, under Standing Order No. 69.—[King's Recommendation signified.']

[Major MILNER in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to abolish penal servitude, hard labour, prison divisions and sentence of whipping; to amend the law relating to the probation of offenders, and otherwise to reform existing methods and provide new methods for dealing with offenders and persons liable to imprisonment; and for purposes connected therewith, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament—

  1. (a) of any expenses of the Secretary of State under the said Act, and of any expenses of the Prison Commissioners there-under, and of any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in the training of probation officers, and officers or servants serving in approved probation hostels or approved probation homes as defined in the said Act, or in remand homes or approved schools, and in the training of persons for appointment as probation officers or as such officers or servants as aforesaid;
    2. 2354
  2. (b) of any expenses incurred by the Minister of Health or by the Board of Control in connection with asylums and places appointed for the purposes of the Criminal Lunatic Asylums Act, 1860;
  3. (c) of any sums by which grants payable in pursuance of regulations made under Subsection (1) of Section sixty-seven of the National Health Service Act, 1946, for the purposes of superannuation benefits to officers engaged in health services are increased by reason of any provision of the said Act of the present Session enabling such regulations to be made for the purpose of granting superannuation benefits to officers employed in asylums and places appointed as aforesaid;
  4. (d) of such sums as the Secretary of State may, with the approval of the Treasury, direct to be paid—
    1. (i) towards expenditure incurred by local authorities, as defined in the said Act of the present Session, in meeting the expenses of probation committees in connection with the probation and supervision of offenders and the supervision of children and young persons; and towards the expenditure out of the metropolitan police fund in connection with such probation and supervision as aforesaid;
    2. (ii) towards expenditure incurred by any society or person approved by the Secretary of State in the establishment, enlargement, improvement and carrying on of approved probation hostels or approved probation homes;
    3. (iii) towards expenditure incurred by any body approved by the Secretary of State in the training of probation officers and of persons for appointment as probation officers;
    4. (iv) towards expenditure incurred by any body approved by the Secretary of State in the training of officers or servants serving in any place in which offenders or persons awaiting trial may be detained or serving in approved probation hostels or homes, and of persons for appointment as such officers or servants;
    5. (v) towards the expenditure incurred by any society engaged in supervising or assisting persons released from a prison or Borstal institution or a detention centre as defined in the said Act;
    not exceeding, in the case of any such expenditure as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) of this paragraph, 50 per cent. of that expenditure; and
  5. (e) of any sums by which grants under Section one hundred and four of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, towards the expenses of county councils and county borough councils, or by which grants under Section one hundred of the Education Act, 1944, towards the expenses of local education authorities, are increased by reason of any provision of the said Act of the present Session;
and the payment into the Exchequer of any sums received by the Secretary of State under the said Act of the present Session,"—[Mr. Ede.]

3.59 p.m.

Mr. Sydney Silverman (Nelson and Colne)

My right hon Friend stated yesterday in another place that the House would be prepared to amend the Bill with regard to the death penalties. Is that covered by the Money Resolution?

The Chairman

I think that question must be decided by discussion.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)

We do not intend by any irregularity to avoid a discussion and if, when the time comes, some ingenious person did suggest he had not been answered, we will see that it is put right.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported upon Monday next.