§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether he can state which courts have hitherto failed to avail themselves of the power of placing previously unconvicted youthful offenders on probation; what steps, if any, he is taking to urge justices to avail themselves more frequently of this power; and whether, in the case of older offenders, he can state which prison authorities, besides those at Wakefield, are at present investigating reformatory systems of training?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe question whether a court has or has not made full use of its powers under the Probation Act cannot be considered by reference merely to cases of youthful offenders1304W who have not been previously convicted. Some such offenders are not suitable subjects for probation, and there are many older offenders for whom probation may properly be used. Ea.ch case must be considered by reference to all the circumstances, including the nature of the offence and the character of the offender. As the hon. Member will be aware, a. great deal has been done by the Horne Office, especially since the passing of the Criminal Justice Act, 1925, to secure the efficient organisation of the probation system and to encourage the use of probation in all proper cases. As regards its use in cases of youthful offenders, I would refer especially to the Home Office circular letter to Justices of 20th July, 1928, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. There is no reason to believe that generally speaking the courts are not fully aware of their powers or fail to use them. As regards the last part of the question, the Prison Commissioners have constantly in mind the value of reformatory systems of training, and the special arrangements made at Wakefield for the treatment of a selected class of prisoners form only one amongst a number of schemes, including schemes in operation at Maidstone, Wormwood Scrubs and Chelsmford prisons.