§ Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether any legislation has been introduced by the Government of India to protect children from maltreatment and exploitation by professional beggars, agents of brothels, and, if so, when?
§ Earl WINTERTONThis matter is now in the main one for the provincial Governments and Legislatures to deal with. Acts for the protection of children and young persons, and for the trial and punishment of youthful offenders were passed in Madras, Bengal, and Bombay in 1920, 1922, and 1924, respectively. Children are protected from the agents of brothels by the Indian Penal Code, which applies throughout India, and the provisions of which in this respect have recently been made more stringent.