§ Mr. FREEMANasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the small number of corporal punishments inflicted on children under 16, namely,.76 per cent. in 1928, he will consider abolishing this form of punishment entirely for children forthwith?
§ Mr. CLYNESI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 24th instant to the hon. Member for West Wolverhampton (Mr. W. J. Brown).
§ Mr. FREEMANasked the Home Secretary whether he will issue instructions that separate records be kept in future of all punishments inflicted upon children at each year of age for inclusion in his statistical report?
§ Mr. CLYNESI regret that I cannot adopt this suggestion, as the collection of this information annually would involve a large amount of additional work. I gather that my hon. Friend has punishment by whipping in mind. I will consider whether a special return on this subject can be obtained from juvenile courts and published in the next report of the children's branch.