HC Deb 03 February 1977 vol 925 cc238-9W
28. Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce steps to encourage magistrates to make community service orders in appropriate circumstances.

Mr. John

The Government have already emphasised the importance they attach to the appropriate use of community service to the extent permitted by the resources available to the probation and after-care service. I do not consider that magistrates generally are in need of special encouragement in this respect.

39. Miss Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to ensure that the conditions attaching to community service orders are strictly complied with.

Mr. John

An offender subject to a community service order works under supervision and a record is kept of his work and attendance. Any failure to comply with the requirements of an order renders an offender liable to proceedings under Section 16 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973, which enables a court, where a breach of requirements has been proved, to fine an offender or to revoke the order and deal with him for the original offence.

64. Mr. Carlisle

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied as to the speed at which arrangements for community service orders are being made available throughout all probation areas.

Mr. John

Community service arrangements already exist in the whole of 26 probation and after-care areas and in parts of 27 others. There will be further extensions of these arrangements during the course of the year, and I am confident that probation and after-care committees will develop community service schemes as quickly as is practicable within the resources available to them.