§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the working of Home Office circulars numbers 188/1968 and 189/1968; and what plans he has to make rules under Section 57 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.
§ Mr. CarlisleIn 1969 probation officers in England and Wales made 200,674 full social inquiry reports, of which 129,134 were for courts of assize or quarter sessions or in respect of persons aged 17 and over appearing at magistrates' courts. The corresponding figures for 1968 were 173,679 and 101,731. Statistics for 1970 are not yet available, but are expected to show a further increase.
320WIn general, the arrangements recommended in the 1968 circulars appear to be working satisfactorily. I am considering how a fuller assessment might be made of their operation.
My right hon. Friend has no present plans to make rules under Section 57 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of suspended imprisonment on women aged 17 years or over were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe numbers of such sentences imposed by magistrates' courts and higher courts respectively were 1,798 and 264 in 1969 and 2,015 and 345 in 1970. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of immediate imprisonment on women were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe numbers of such sentences imposed by magistrates' courts and higher courts respectively were 695 and 317 in 1969 and 824 and 377 in 1970. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders in 1969 and 1970 were committed by magistrates' courts to quarter sessions for sentence under Section 28 or 29 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1952; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. Carlisle13,738 offenders in 1969 and 15,778 offenders in 1970 were committed by magistrates' courts to quarter sessions for sentence. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases 321W in which the court considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of suspended imprisonment of two years or less, where the offender had not received a previous sentence if imprisonment or borstal training, were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately, on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. CarlisleI regret that the information is not available.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of immediate imprisonment of two years or less, where the offender had not received a previous sentence of imprisonment or borstal training, were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately, on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. CarlisleI am obtaining information about this and shall write to the right hon. Member.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of detention in a detention centre were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts, separately, on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts previously considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe numbers of such sentences imposed by magistrates' courts and higher courts respectively were 5,703 and 1,775 in 1969 and 6,194 and 2,189 in 1970. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences of Borstal training were imposed in 1969 and 1970 by the higher courts and magistrates' courts separately, on offenders aged 17 years or over; and in how many of these cases the courts 322W previously considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe numbers of such sentences imposed by all courts were 5,620 in 1969 and 6,502 in 1970. Of these, 9 and 3 respectively were imposed by magistrates' courts on offenders who were subject to an approved school order. Statistics are not collected of the numbers of such cases in which the court considered a social inquiry report.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what research he has done into the characteristics and type of offences of persons subject to suspended sentences; and with what results;
(2) what research he has done into the effect of the introduction of suspended sentences on sentencing policy; and with what results.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe Home Office has recently made an analysis, by age, sex and type of offence, of persons given suspended sentences during 1968 to 1970, but has not yet completed its study of this material. It is, however, clear that considerable use has been made of the suspended sentence by the courts, and suggests that the suspended sentence, as well as partially replacing sentences of immediate imprisonment, has been used to some extent in place of fines and probation.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates or facts are available as to previous convictions of, and previous sentences of imprisonment served by, people given suspended sentences in 1968, 1969 and 1970.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe Home Office Research Unit has recently completed a study of a sample of 1,000 men given suspended sentences in 1968. The analysis includes information on their previous convictions and previous custodial sentences.