HC Deb 27 June 1960 vol 625 c94W
Mr. Rawlinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the data supplied and the statistics compiled by criminal courts concerning the types of persons and offences and the circumstances thereof for offences committed or alleged in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The best methods of collecting criminal statistics and the range of statistics which it is worth while collecting are among the questions which I have in mind in connection with our efforts to improve our knowledge of the practical problems of crime and punishment; but the mere multiplication of statistics, which in this field are hardly capable of giving a complete and accurate picture, is not necessarily helpful. It may be more instructive, as well as more economical, to make detailedad hoc studies of topics with which we are particularly concerned.