§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give particulars of the incidence of juvenile delinquency in the counties of Linlithgow, Stirling and Clackmannan, respectively, in 58W the years 1940, 1941 and 1942; and what reasons can be adduced for increases or decreases?
Mr. JohnstonThe numbers of children and young persons in the areas referred to against whom charges have been proved during the years in question are as follow:
1940 1941 1942 Westlothian … 128 206 180 Stirling … 361 471 498 Clackmannan … 56 108 27 The causes of the increases in juvenile delinquency arise largely from war conditions, and are summarised in a circular issued by the Scottish Education Department and the Scottish Home Department on the 27th December, 1941, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The decrease in the case of Clackmannan in 1942 is attributed by the Education Authority largely to the development of youth organisations under the new youth service scheme.