HC Deb 01 May 1958 vol 587 c59W
106. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the public anxiety at the present time about the number of cases of cruelty to children; and whether he is satisfied that everything possible is done to locate and deal with cases of cruelty, and that, in the event of a conviction, the law is sufficiently severe to give just punishment.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I hope that public anxiety will continue as long as cases of cruelty to children happen. I am sure that the responsible authorities are constantly alert to detect such cases and to take appropriate action, but they must often depend on the co-operation of private citizens for their information. With regard to the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 14th November last to my hon. Friend the Member for Horn-church (Mr. Lagden).