§ Mr. HUDSONasked the Home Secretary whether he can now state the result of his inquiries about Reggie Ford?
Mr. HENDERSONI have received a full report from one of the inspectors of the Children's Branch of the Home Office who has seen the boy, visited the boy's home, and obtained information from a number of local officials and other persons who are acquainted with the circumstances. I am satisfied that the magistrates, who included two women magistrates, dealt with the case with the fullest sympathy, and with a desire to do what was best for the boy. The parents admitted that he was given to pilfering, that he was falling under the bad influence of older boys, and that they were unable to control him; and they asked that the boy might be sent away to school. The magistrates decided to send him to the Somerset Boys' Home, where he could complete his elementary education under proper supervision. To describe this as treating the little boy as a criminal and giving him a sentence of detention for eight years gives an entirely unfair and misleading impression of the decision of the Court. When the boy was received into the school in January, 1923, he was said to suffer from nervous trouble and to need care. Special attention was accordingly given to the boy under the supervision of the school doctor. As his conduct was good he was allowed home in the holidays and taken to camp with the other boys, and appeared to be very happy. In April last a nervous twitching was noticed, and on the advice of the school doctor he was sent at once for observation to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, where he has been receiving suitable treatment, and he will soon he able to leave the hospital. After careful consideration of the home surroundings of the boy, I should not be prepared at present to discharge the boy to his parents, but it has been arranged for a medical inspector to visit the boy in hospital next week and to consider whether it is best for him to return to school or whether some other arrangement should be made.