§ 5. Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to introduce measures to deal with the rehabilitation of offenders.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon)My right hon. Friend is considering the desirability of legislation on this subject, but he is not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. DykesI appreciate that it is early days, but does not the Minister agree that this is one of the most important aspects of the reform of the penal code and that the sooner something can be proposed formally the better? There is widespread public sympathy with the idea that offenders who have served their sentences should not afterwards suffer, year 606 in, year out, for penalties and crimes of a historical nature.
§ Mr. LyonAs the hon. Gentleman will know from the debate we had on this subject on the Private Member's Bill, I sympathise with the principle and hope that we shall be able to do something about it. We are investigating the matter.
§ Mr. MarksIs my hon. Friend aware that the Rehabilitation of Offenders Bill, a Private Member's Bill, had reached Committee when the General Election was called? A similar Bill had been through all stages in another place. Will my hon. Friend hasten Government consideration of this urgent problem?
§ Sir George YoungIs the Minister aware that the Home Office grants payable to those charitable organisations which provide accommodation for offenders after they are released are in urgent need of review if such organisations are to continue to make provision for offenders?
§ Mr. LyonAs that goes outside the terms of the Question, I should prefer the hon. Gentleman to write to me about it. I shall certainly see that it is considered.
§ Mr. PriorAs the Government are short of legislation and the Bill is in a form in which it could immediately be introduced into the House, why do they not get on with it?