§ 4.30 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the Consideration of Commons Amendments read.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD CRAIGTON)My Lords, in rising to move that the Commons Amendments be now considered, I trust that it will be for the greater convenience of your Lordships if I say a few words about the Bill. The majority of the Amendments made in another place are of a minor and consequential nature, but there are a few to which I should refer. Amendment No. 1 meets a point made by the noble Lord, Lord 1111 Hughes, in now requiring sheriffs and stipendiary magistrates to state their reasons for imposing detention in certain circumstances. The group of four Amendments, Nos. 4, 6, 7 and 10, are all designed to minimise, so far as possible, the number of persons in a detention centre who, for one reason or another, are not suitable for or subject to the full centre régime.
The new clause at Amendment No. 15 gives effect to the advice of the S.A.C.T.O. Report that the After-Care Council should become an advisory body, and that after care should become a direct responsibility of the Secretary of State. Amendment No. 16 reduces from twelve to six months the period of imprisonment on summary conviction in certain circumstances. This meets the doubts expressed on this point by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Guest, on Second Reading. Amendment No. 17 provides that a previously convicted person, of any age, who is again convicted has the provisions of the First Offenders (Scotland) Act applied to him if more than ten years has elapsed since his previous conviction or release from detention.
My Lords, these are the major Amendments. With your Lordships' approval, I will later move all the Amendments en bloc, and if noble Lords have any question to ask about any specific Amendment, I will do my best to answer it. I beg to move that the Commons Amendments be now considered.
§ Moved, That the Commons Amendments be now considered.—(Lord Craigton.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.