HC Deb 29 June 1915 vol 72 cc1646-7W
Mr. KING

asked the Home Secretary how many young persons within the meaning of the Children Act, 1908, were in 1914 received into prisons in England and Wales either upon remand or upon committal for trial?

Sir J. SIMON

The number of the young persons referred to is, I believe, very small, but the exact figures are not available. They could only be obtained by an expenditure of time and labour which I could not ask the Prison Department to undertake.

Mr. KING

asked the Home Secretary whether there is a special Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Police appointed to supervise the work of the Metropolitan Police in relation to children and young persons within the meaning of the Children Act, 1908; and, if not, whether he will appoint such an Assistant Commissioner?

Sir J. SIMON

The plan recommended in this question is already adopted. All matters relating to children and young persons, except cases connected with the "white slave" traffic, are specially assigned to one Assistant Commissioner and are dealt with by him. The excepted cases are specially assigned to another Assistant Commissioner