§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the total number of male children charged by the police during the years 1913 and 1914, giving the number charged by their own parents for being beyond control and thieving from parents, respectively; and the number of children charged during each quarter of 1914 and up to 31st March, 1915?
§ Mr. McKENNADuring the year 1913 about 19,400 boys under fourteen were charged with offences, but the numbers charged by the police, by their parents or by other persons cannot be distinguished; 210 boys, not charged with particular offences, were found by the Courts to be beyond parental control and sent to industrial schools. The figures for 1914 are not yet available, and there are no quarterly returns.