§ 29. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will appoint a committee with similar terms of reference to the Streatfeild Committee.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. John Maclay)Some parts of the Report of Mr. Justice Streatfeild's Committee will be of considerable interest to those concerned with the treatment of offenders in Scotland and I do not consider that there is a case at the present time for setting up a similar Scottish committee.
§ Mr. HannanAlthough, as the right hon. Gentleman says, the Report deals with offenders, he will be aware that the Committee dealt also with the interval which elapses between offences being committed and the offenders being brought before the courts. In view of the figures which the Secretary of State himself has provided in regard to Glasgow, will he reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. MaclayPart A of the Report of the Streatfeild Committee does not deal with a matter which is relevant to Scotland, as I think the hon. Member will realise if he studies it, but I am aware of the delays to which he refers and, together with the Lord Advocate, I am considering whether any steps are necessary to ease the position.