Coroners and Justice Bill

I wholly support the amendment and with a greater degree of optimism than my noble friend Lady Murphy—my optimism being that the Minister, after listening to the powerful arguments being put forward, will listen and think again and that the Government may back this amendment. It cannot be right logically to think that children of 10 can be treated the same as adults for their behaviour and be subjected therefore to the same justice system or criminal system. The noble Baroness has a lot more experience in this matter than I have, as an obstetrician, and she is right in saying that children of that age may be severely psychologically disturbed and require more care rather than trial in the courts. So I hope that the Minister will back the amendment.