24. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the urgency of coming to a decision on the question of the reintroduction of corporal punishment, he will now state whether the Report of the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders will be available to hon. Members this Session.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)The chairman is aware that I am anxious to have the Report quickly, but the Council must, of course, be given time to make a proper study of the problem.
Mr. Gresham CookeWill my right hon. Friend keep in mind that it would be very helpful to have it before July? The Cadogan Report is now twenty-two years old, and it really dealt only with the birching of boys of 12 to 14 and does not answer the question which constituents are asking, namely, whether summary birching should be introduced for boys who commit violent crimes at, say, between the ages of 17 and 19?
§ Mr. ButlerI hope that those responsible for the inquiry will pay attention to my hon. Friend's observations. It will be very difficult to have the report in a great hurry, but the Council is aware that I want it as soon as it possibly can produce it.