HC Deb 20 June 1956 vol 554 cc96-7W
59. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the number of cases of juvenile delinquency in British East African Colonial Territories have increased or decreased during the past five years; what accommodation exists for these delinquents outside of prisons; whether instances of the infliction of corporal punishment have declined; and whether this punishment is ever inflicted on girls or women.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As regards the first part of the Question, I am asking the Governors of the territories concerned to bring the available data up to date.

As to accommodation, there are reformatories or approved schools for young male offenders in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, and remand homes in Kenya and Uganda. In Zanzibar there are facilities for sending boys who require institutional treatment to the approved school in Tanganyika.

Corporal punishment of juveniles has increased in Kenya during the past five years but has declined in Somaliland. It has shown little variation in Tanganyika and Zanzibar. There has been some increase in Uganda, but both here and in Zanzibar this form of punishment is used very sparingly.

In none of these territories is corporal punishment ever inflicted on girls or women.

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