HC Deb 15 November 1979 vol 973 cc1486-8
10. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the 15th report of the Select Committee on Expenditure concerning the reduction of pressure on the prison system; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Whitelaw

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 9 November.

Mr. Hardy

Does the Home Secretary agree that there is urgent need for attention to the question of the development or further development of the system of community service orders, and for the development of partially suspended sentences? Will he consider taking some action to ensure that these relevant steps are made possible before the end of next year?

Mr. Whitelaw

I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I agree with him entirely. We shall do everything we can to encourage those concerned to make more use of community service orders and have regard to the other proposal that he has made.

Mrs. Renée Short

The right hon. Gentleman must be aware that there have been a large number of reports about the prison system by Committees of this House and committees outside. What will he do to carry out some of the recommendations of the May committee to improve conditions and to reduce overcrowding within the prisons, as well as to involve more community people in looking after prisoners within the prison?

Mr. Whitelaw

The report of the May committee is extremely important and very valuable. I intend inside the Home Office to make sure that we respond positively to many of the proposals made concerning the Home Office. We also intend to respond positively to the proposals for taking some people, such as the mentally disordered, out of prison. That is very important. We responded positively and immediately in accepting all the proposals on pay and allowances of prison officers put forward by the May committee. We shall continue on that basis.

Mr. Stanbrook

Will my right hon. Friend consider taking powers to enable him to transfer to their own countries Commonwealth citizens who are in prison in this country, so that they might then be able to be in touch with their relatives at home?

Mr. Whitelaw

I should like to consider what my hon. Friend has said; and I shall certainly do so.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

Will the Home Secretary publish in the Official Report details of what would be the effect upon the prison population if the recommendations of the May committee that certain types of prisoners should not be in prison were carried through? That may be a starting point, before the right hon. Gentleman examines how much should be spent on prisons.

Mr. Whitelaw

That is an interesting and important suggestion. I shall certainly look into it.