§ Captain CAZALETasked the Home Secretary the number of young persons (16 to 21) committed to prison within the last year for the first offence; and whether, seeing that such treatment with young offenders is detrimental to the moral influence for reform, he will consider legislation to remove youths from coming under the prison taint at so early an age?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSParticulars are not available showing the number who were sent to prison for a first offence. Of 2,227 males and 193 females aged from 16 to 21 years who were received in prison during the year ending 31st March, 1925, 1,069 males and 102 females had not been previously convicted, although many of them had previously been dealt with under the Probation Act. As regards the latter part of the question, I must await the Report of the Committee upon the. Treatment of Young Offenders.