§ 19. Miss Baconasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the report on after-care from his advisory committee.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeThe organisation of after-care is being considered by a sub-committee of the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders. I am told that the sub-committee has made substantial progress, but that it is not yet possible to say exactly when the inquiry will be completed.
§ Miss BaconIf this report is going to be unduly delayed, will the hon. and learned Gentleman assure the House that he and his right hon. Friend will do everything they can to improve the aftercare services now? Is he aware that in many cases the services are totally ineffective, and that while we wait for the report of the committee, and while we 553 are here discussing this matter, there are hundreds of ex-prisoners walking the streets with no homes and no work? Is he aware that in the case I sent him recently in which I requested after-care and was assured that it would be put into operation, the man concerned has no permanent home, no job, no friends, no relatives, and is at this moment walking the streets of London? Is he further aware that if such men get into trouble again they ought not to be in the dock alone, but should have others with them?
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeThis is a very serious problem. The sub-committee has finished taking evidence and is in the process of drafting its report. I understand that the committee has gone into this problem with immense thoroughness over a very wide field, and I think that we must wait and see what it says.