§ 21. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he is considering to reduce the numbers in Her Majesty's prisons.
§ Mr. JohnA wide range of alternative non-custodial measures is available to the courts and our main current concern is to maintain and where possible develop these as best we can in the present difficult financial situation. We have under consideration proposals for increasing 653W certain of the powers of the courts to impose financial penalties. As regards untried and unsentenced prisoners, the Bail Act will reinforce efforts to avoid remand in custody wherever possible. But it must not be forgotten that the size of the prison population is largely determined by the number of detected and convicted offenders and the use by the courts of their sentencing discretion.
§ 24. Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a review of the general operations of the immigrant advisory and welfare services in the London borough areas.