36. Lieut.-Colonel Uptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a 14 year-old boy has been detained at a remand home in Woking since 9th May.
§ Mr. EdeIt is within the discretion of the justices to remand and to grant or refuse bail and it would not be proper for me to give the reasons for, or to comment on, their action.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the Home Secretary aware that as a direct consequence of the heartless remanding in custody for over four weeks of a 14 year-old schoolboy, whose parents live in my constituency, he has contracted an infectious disease as a result of which he is now in an isolation hospital? What steps will my right hon. Friend take to overcome this evil and quite disgusting cat and mouse method of dispensing justice in our magistrates' courts?
§ Mr. EdeThe boy is at present in hospital, but, as I said, it is not for me to comment on this action.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonMay I press my right hon. Friend to give us this assurance: will this lad when he recovers from the infectious disease which he contracted in this remand home, where he was for over four weeks, be sent from the isolation hospital back to the remand home for a further period of custody, or will he be allowed to stay at home with his parents until the case is tried, preferably by other justices not so clearly unfitted to sit on the bench?
§ Mr. EdeThat is not a matter for me. The Royal prerogative, on the use of which I am responsible for making recommendations, does not apply to remands.