§ 32. Mr. Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will expedite the investigation being carried out by the Home Office into the remand situation in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleI assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the working party which is considering bail procedures in magistrates' courts in England and Wales. The working party will complete its task as expeditiously as possible.
§ Mr. WintertonI thank my hon. and learned Friend for that promising answer, but may I ask him whether he agrees that bail hostels are one method which could be used to overcome present difficulties? Does he feel that sufficient money will be forthcoming for the establishment of more of these hostels?
§ Mr. CarlisleI welcome the fact that a bail hostel was opened by my right hon. Friend last year with the help of private finance. As my hon. Friend knows, the Criminal Justice Bill makes provision for probation committees to have bail hostels. This is an important and welcome development.