§ Mr. ACLAND ALLENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a case at Leicester, on 16th January in which two boys, aged ten and twelve, respectively, who were feeble-minded and were in attendance at a special school for defective children, were charged with housebreaking and ordered to be birched; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAOn my attention being called to the case by my hon. Friend I made inquiry, and I find that the magistrates, before they dealt with the case, had a report from the medical officer of the education authority which showed that the boys were "quite responsible for their actions and amenable to ordinary discipline." Owing to the want of proper parental control, their conduct outside school is very bad. They have been concerned in more than forty cases of housebreaking and theft, and have caused damage and loss to the extent of more than £100. I am glad to learn that arrangements have now been made by the education authority for their being sent to special industrial schools.