§ Mr. Corlettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the numbers of children and young persons found guilty of indictable offences in England and Wales in 1949 compare with the numbers in 1948.
§ Mr. EdeProvisional figures for the period from 1st January to 31st August of this year show that 16,741 boys and girls under the age of 14, and 10,340 aged 14–17, were found guilty of indictable164W offences and dealt with in magistrates' courts. The figures for the corresponding period of 1948 were 17,481 and 11,386. The decreases in 1949 were thus 740 and 1,046, or 4 per cent. and 9 per cent.
§ Mr. Corlettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far the figures for indictable offences in England and Wales this year show any decline as compared with 1948.
§ Mr. EdeThe provisional returns for the period from 1st January to 31st August of this year show that 12,263 persons were found guilty at assizes and quarter sessions of indictable offences, and that 64,696 persons were found guilty at magistrates' courts of indictable offences. These figures are 1,924 (or 14 per cent.) and 7,895 (or 11 per cent.) less than those for the corresponding period of last year.