§ 80. Mr. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the recent increase in crimes of violence against schoolchildren and the ineffectiveness of present penalties, if he will now introduce emergency legislation to restore flogging for such crimes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am not prepared to reintroduce flogging as a judicial penalty. Before 1948 the only violent crime for which it was available was robbery with violence, and it was not found to be an172W especially effective deterrent. I think it is more important to develop constructive methods of dealing with offenders on the lines indicated in the recent White Paper on "Penal Practice in a Changing Society."