§ Mr. LOVAT-FRASERasked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the practice, adopted by some magistrates, of ordering juvenile delinquents to be birched and at the same time putting them upon probation; and whether he will introduce legislation to make this illegal?
§ Mr. SHORTYes, Sir, cases of this kind have been reported to my right hon. Friend, and he thinks that the combination of a punishment such as birching with a probation order is contrary to the intention of the Statute. If the wording of the Statute leaves any room for doubt, he will consider the question of amending it when a suitable opportunity arises.