§ Mr. YOUNGERasked the Lord Advocate whether he was aware that it is the practice of certain parish councils in Scotland to send children to be handed over to the care of their fathers immediately upon the father being released from imprisonment for the neglect or desertion of their 611W families; whether, in particular, his attention had been called to a recent case in Greenock where three girls and a boy were sent in a cab to the prison door from Smithston poorhouse, where they had been kept for 15 months, to be given over to the charge of their newly-liberated father; and whether any steps could be taken by the Local Government Board to ensure that parents in such a position are, in the interests of their children, given some opportunity of endeavouring to provide a home for them before having such a responsibility thrown upon them?
612W
§ Mr. UREI am not aware of the case referred to by the hon. Member, but the attention of the Local Government Board will be called to it and to the alleged practice of certain parish councils.