§ 3. Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the central authority recommended to be set up by the Inter-departmental Committee on the business of the Criminal Courts to enable judges and magistrates to obtain periodic reports on those they have sentenced has yet been constituted.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeThis recommendation does not require the establishment of a new central authority; the Home Office will make all necessary arrangements for periodic reports where judges ask for them.
§ Mr. AbseDo I understand that already it is possible for judges and other sentencers to make a request to the Home Office for follow-through reports on anyone they have sentenced? I hope that is what is meant by the hon. and learned Member's repay, since it is very important that sentencers should know the consequences of their actions.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeWe fully recognise the importance of this follow-up exercise. In the first instance, we are putting machinery in train for the superior courts, because it is they who give longer sentences and, therefore, follow-up exercises are particularly important for them. The machinery is almost ready and it will be in train within a month or two.