§ 27. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many youths have been sentenced to be detained for periods by magistrates' courts during each of the past five years for petty larceny and minor offences; how many of them were certified as mental defectives before, and how many after, the offences were committee; and if he will take steps to see that these young men are medically examined at periods of 12 months by two independent doctors.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeThe number of youths between the ages of 17 and 21 sentenced by magistrates' courts to imprisonment without the option of a fine in 1951 was 667. The corresponding figures for the four previous years were: 1947, 1,646; 1948, 1,529; 1949, 635; 1950, 741.
The only available figures relevant to the second part of the Question show that during the three years 1949 to 1951 a total of 157 youths of this age were committed to institutions for mental defectives under Section 8 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, after being found guilty of an offence by a magistrates' court.
So far as concerns penal institutions for which I am responsible, every young person detained therein is medically examined as often as is considered necessary by the responsible medical officers.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Home Secretary aware that young lads, after being convicted of petty larceny, are sent away and certified, although they have never been certified before the offence; and will he see that these lads are examined, not only by one medical officer but by two, one of whom should be the family doctor?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI will look into the question of medical examination.