§ Dr. PETERSasked the Home Secretary whether he will cause a memorandum to be circulated again drawing the attention of magistrates to the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907, especially as regards children and young persons charged with offences triable summarily, and urge that first offenders should be dealt with under that Act and avoid registering a conviction?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe juvenile courts are well aware of the probation system, and there is no reason to believe that they do not apply it in all suitable cases. I do not think that any advantage would be gained by a further circular on the subject from the Home Office.
§ Dr. PETERSasked the Home Secretary whether he will circulate a memorandum to call attention to the provisions of Section 111 of the Children Act, 1908, so that where it is possible to arrange for children and young persons not to be brought into a court the provisions of the Act shall be complied with, and that where a children's court has to be held, either before or after the 228W usual sitting of the court, children and young persons shall not be required to wait in the general waiting-room of the court with adults charged with offences?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe arrangements for holding juvenile courts were carefully considered by the Young Offenders Committee and the attention of justices was drawn to the recommendations of the Committee in a circular issued by the Home Office on 30th September, 1927. The question has also been fully dealt with in the reports of the Children's Branch of the Home Office, copies of which have been sent to the justices. It is proposed to amend Section 111 of the Children Act, 1908, as soon as opportunity can be found for a Bill dealing with this and other matters relating to the treatment of children and young persons. I do not think that any advantage would be gained by issuing a further circular to justices at present.