§ 84. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further consultations have taken place and what progress has been made in respect of the diminution or abolition of corporal punishment as penalties inflicted on offenders in colonial territories; and what correlation there is between the reduction of the number of sentences of this form of punishment and the incidence of crime.
§ Mr. LytteltonMost colonial Governments have now reported what action they consider can be taken in this matter. In 10 territories corporal punishment for adults was not in force. Five others intend that it should be abolished and most of the rest propose that further limitation should be placed upon the types of case in which it can be awarded. It is too early to hazard any estimate whatever of the effect of the recent changes on crime.