§ Lord AYLESTONEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the reported decisions by some probation officers not to prepare reports in cases where they consider that the motives of a defendant are of a political character, they will state what are the obligations of the Probation Service in carrying out their responsibilities in these and other cases.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)My Lords, the duties of probation officers include advising, assisting and befriending offenders placed under their statutory supervision and the making of reports, in accordance with the directions of the courts. It is the duty of probation and after-care committees to satisfy themselves that these duties are efficiently carried out. There can be no question of this duty ceasing to apply because an offender claims that he was politically motivated in committing his offence.
§ Lord AYLESTONEMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that a report by a probation officer is of vital importance to a 354 defendant and that, even if the probation officer feels that there is a political motive behind the action of the defendant, a report should still be made?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHYes, my Lords; that is the Government's position.