§ Mr. THURTLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the punishment of flogging is inflicted upon boys at the Greenwich Royal Hospital School; if so, for what nature of offences; whether the superintendent has authority to inflict this punishment; whether any other person in the school has similar authority; whether approval has to be obtained from 1558W a higher authority before the punishment is inflicted; and how many boys have been flogged during the last three years?
§ Mr. AMMONThe answer to the first part of the question is No, Sir, but boys are caned on the breech with a light cane—clothed, for serious offences such as wilful disobedience. The answer to the third part is in the affirmative, and to the fourth and fifth parts in the negative. 218 canings have taken place during the last three years, and as the average complement is 1,000 boys, this means that one boy is caned every five days. I think my hon. Friend will agree that this is a very low figure for so large a family.