§ 53. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the wide variations between sentences imposed for cruelty to children and less serious assaults on adults, he will order a review of the treatment of cases of child cruelty with a view to the introduction of amending legislation.
§ Mr. BrookeThe maximum penalties which the courts may impose for cruelty to children were increased as recently as last session by the Children and Young Persons Act, 1963, and I am not convinced that further legislation is necessary. The actual penalty imposed in a particular case, within the limits laid down by law, is entirely at the discretion of the court which has heard the case.
§ 62. Mr. C. Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make the penalty for the offence of cruelty to children at least equal to that of cruelty to animals.
§ Mr. BrookeWhen Section 31 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1963, comes into force on 1st February next, all the maximum penalties for offences of cruelty to children will far exceed those for cruelty to animals.