§ Wing Commander Hulbertasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered a recent case of irregular punishment in an approved school, to which his attention has been drawn; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. EdeIt is my duty to see that approved schools are properly conducted and I am always ready to investigate complaints about them. In an anonymous article published recently in a newspaper the writer alleges that unauthorised forms of punishment have been used in a certain approved school and offers to give me full details if I give him the same pledge of secrecy as has been given to him by the newspaper. If the writer of the article is prepared to substantiate his allegations and to supply further details, I shall gladly arrange for him to be seen by an officer of my Department and will then consider what further action can appropriately be taken. If aprima facie case were made out, it would undoubtedly be necessary for me to hold an inquiry into the allegations at which both the complainant and those responsible for the conduct of the school would be afforded an opportunity of presenting their case. I do not think that any person who, out of a sense of public duty, brings abuses to my notice need fear that his career will thereby be prejudiced.