§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how 554W many individuals have been sentenced to community service since the scheme came into operation; and how many in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Dr. Summerskill4,537 persons were made subject to community service orders between 1st January 1973 and 30th November 1975, of whom 2,710 were sentenced between 1st January and 30th November 1975.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those sentenced to community service since the scheme came into operation did not complete their sentences.
§ Dr. SummerskillBetween 1st January 1973 and 30th November 1975, the courts revoked community service orders in respect of 487 persons.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offenders have chosen prison rather than community service since the scheme came into operation;
(2) if he has any estimate of the number of those sentenced to community service who continue with the work voluntarily after the completion of their sentence;
(3) if he has an estimate of the number of persons sentenced to community service who committed further offences while serving as community service workers;
(4) how many community service workers have been fined for failing to turn up for work or for failing to co-operate.
§ Dr. SummerskillI regret that this information is not readily available.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average length and type of a community service sentence;
(2) if he can estimate the number of those sentenced to community service who were (a) men, (b) women and (c) young offenders.
§ Dr. SummerskillCommunity service arrangements began to be extended to probation and after-care areas generally as from 1st April 1975. During the first 555W eight months since then the number of persons of each sex made subject to
PERSONS MADE SUBJECT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS BY SEX AND NUMBER OF HOURS OF SERVICE ORDERED 1ST APRIL TO 30TH NOVEMBER 1975 Up to 99 hours 100–149 hours 150–199 hours 200–240 hours Total ordered Male … … 451 1,143 351 303 2,248 Female … … 37 55 6 7 105 Total, both sexes … … 488 1,109 357 310 2,353 Orders in 579 cases were made by the Crown Court and in 1,774 cases by magistrates' courts. Of the 2,353 persons involved, 1,199 males and 39 females were aged 17 to 20 inclusive.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the Community Service Scheme; if he will make a statement; and if he intends to extend its range.
§ Dr. SummerskillWe are encouraged by the progress made so far by probation and after-care committees in introducing local schemes for offenders to carry out work under community service orders and by the use which has been made of the disposal by the courts. We shall maintain a close interest in the continuing development and use of this disposal but we have no plans at present for any changes in the present statutory provisions regarding the persons who may be made subject to community service orders.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what areas of the United Kingdom community service orders are not available.
§ Dr. SummerskillOur responsibility for this matter relates only to England and Wales. As from 1st April 1976, the only probation and after-care areas in England and Wales which lack any arrangements for offenders to carry out work under community service orders will be Cornwall, Dyfed, Powys and the City of London. Within the remaining probation and after-care areas arrangements will exist as from that date in the whole of 22 areas and in part or parts of the following 30 areas:
Avon
Cambridgeshire
Derbyshire
Devon
Dorset
Gloucestershire
556Wcommunity service orders and the hours of service ordered were as follows:
Hampshire
Hereford and Worcester
Hertfordshire
Humberside
Lancashire
Lincolnshire
South East London
Greater Manchester
Middlesex
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
Northumbria
Oxfordshire
Staffordshire
Suffolk
East Sussex
West Sussex
Warwickshire
West Midlands
Wiltshire
North Yorkshire
Gwent
North Wales
Mid-Glamorgan