§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD KINNAIRDMy Lords, the object of this Bill, which has come up to your Lordships from the House of Commons, is to extend to Scotland the Vagrancy Act, 1898, which has been found to work well in England. Many instances have come before the Magistrates lately of male persons living on the proceeds of prostitution in Scotland, and those competent to judge believe that this Bill will be of great value in reducing this nefarious traffic by making provision for the punishment of offenders.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Kinnaird.)
1502§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Lord BALFOUR of BURLEIGH)My Lords, I do not propose to offer any objection to the passing of this Bill. The noble Lord has correctly told the House that it extends to Scotland an Act which was passed for England about four years ago. I understand that those who know say that the effect of the passing of that Act, so far as England was concerned, was to compel a number of extremely undesirable persons to leave the Metropolis. There is a theory that some of them, at anyrate, went to Glasgow, but I have not been able to find any facts in support of it. Another evil has grown up in Glasgow which I believe the promoters of this Bill think they can strike under it. I am advised that they are too sanguine in their anticipation, and that the particular evil aimed at, so far as Glasgow is concerned, will not be affected by this Bill. But as I am assured by the Home Office that the Act as applied to England has been productive of good in the Metropolis, I see no objection to its extension to Scotland.
§ On Question, agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.