§ 44. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of considerable variation in colonial areas in respect of the minimum age at which juveniles can be treated as criminals and sentenced to imprisonment, what consultations have taken place with a view to securing agreement between all colonial governors and legislatures for a common policy in respect, both of age, and of the most enlightened treatment of juvenile delinquency.
§ Mr. HopkinsonIn many Colonial Territories legislation has been enacted similar to the United Kingdom Children's Act, 1933, in which the age of criminal responsibility is laid down as eight. Before 1933, the age in this country was seven and I think it unlikely that it is lower than that in any Colonial Territory. In the United Kingdom the minimum age at which young persons can be imprisoned is 15. In most Colonial Territories it is 14, in a few it is lower and in at least two it is higher. But in practice young persons below the ages of 17 or 18 are seldom imprisoned. My right hon. Friend is in constant touch with Colonial Governments on the subject of introducing the most enlightened treatment of juvenile delinquency their resources permit.
§ Mr. SorensenWhile expressing my appreciation for the reply and the information given, may I ask whether anything is being done periodically to draw the attention of all the Colonial Governors to the best treatment now being operated in the Colonies regarding juvenile delinquency, particularly, for instance, in regard to corporal punishment?
§ Mr. HopkinsonIt has not specifically been suggested to the Colonial Governments that they should adopt a common policy either in regard to the age of criminal responsibility or the minimum age at which juveniles may be imprisoned, but we are progressing towards a common policy in so far as we are constantly advocating to Colonial Governments that they should adopt the United Kingdom practice in this matter.