HC Deb 18 November 1976 vol 919 cc1552-3
11. Mr. Hordern

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the progress of the community service in West Sussex.

Mr. John

Community service arrangements already exist in six out of the nine petty sessions areas. An extension to the other three has been under consideration, but we cannot provide resources additional to those contained in the last rate support grant settlement.

Mr. Hordern

Will the Minister recognise that the purpose of community service is that people who have been found guilty of an offence should carry out their sentences in the service of the community instead of being sent to prison, at a considerable saving of cost to the public in general? Therefore, is it not common sense to extend the service to those three other parts of West Sussex, including Horsham and Crawley, which are in my constituency, at a considerable saving in cost to the general public? Surely this is one matter at which the Minister should look again.

Mr. John

The hon. Gentleman is right in saying that community service arrangements are valuable. That is why in 53 out of the 56 probation areas in England and Wales community service arrangements exist. As regards saving by making community service an alternative to imprisonment, the diversion of comparatively few people to community service orders would not reduce the overheads which have to be borne by prison establishments. Only if a sufficiently large number were diverted from imprisonment to community service orders so that some prison accommodation could be closed would a saving be possible. I do not believe that that is what the hon. Gentleman is advocating in his Question.

Mr. Hardy

Is my hon. Friend aware that information reaching me from South Yorkshire suggests that the community service order arrangement has proved to be extremely successful and is to be welcomed? In view of that experience, which I think is fairly common, will my hon. Friend ensure the further rapid development of these community service arrangements?

Mr. John

My hon. Friend will know that there are exigencies of public expenditure, but within that limit we are satisfied with the development of the community service projects and I am pleased to note that my hon. Friend has that happy experience from his own part of the world.

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