§ Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation to ensure that victims of actions which give rise to criminal prosecutions can receive better protection, particularly where the leniency of magistrates resulted in injustice to aggrieved parties, and against which no appeal by the Home Secretary is available.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganIt is for the criminal courts to decide what use to make of the various powers which they have to require offenders to compensate their victims. Whether more can be done generally to improve the prospects of reparation by offenders is a matter on which my right hon. Friend is awaiting a report from the Advisory Council on the Penal System.