HL Deb 28 April 1964 vol 257 cc886-7
BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will now institute an inquiry into the operation of the First Offenders Act, 1958.]

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, my right honourable friend agrees that it would be useful to conduct some research into the operation of the Act. He is considering the form which this should take.

BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGER

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the Minister for his Answer. In arranging the research will he have in mind that there is some reason to suppose that the seriousness of the offence is sometimes used as the justification for sending first offenders to prison on occasions when the offence strikes the layman as being of a purely minor character?

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, that of course will be borne in mind.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, will the noble Lord ask his right honourable friend also to have regard to the fact that some 6,000 first offenders are sent to prison every year and in some cases, such as the one of which I have sent him particulars, the first offender is given a more severe sentence than is a man with a criminal record, for precisely the same crime?

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, I will take notice of what the noble Lord has said.

LORD REA

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether it is likely that something more will be indicated to this House about the inquiry before the end of the present Session?

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, research has already started in the Home Office and we will carry it as far as we can during this Session. If there is anything in particular to announce will let the noble Lord know, and perhaps he will put down a Question.

LORD REA

My Lords, I was really considering what form this research would take—whether there would be a committee of inquiry or something of that sort.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, we do not think that this question is suitable for an official inquiry. We think this is a matter for research. As the noble Lord will realise, research may be a somewhat long-term matter in itself, but probably less long-term than an official inquiry.