Mr. Compton Carrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the annual official statistics on drunkenness; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeThe White Paper on Offences of Drunkenness for 1962 in England and Wales is being published today (Cmnd. 2102). The number of offences proved was 83,992, an increase of 12½ per cent. over 1961. This continues an upward trend over the last eleven years. There is, fortunately, a fall of 8 per cent. in the number of convictions of persons under 18.
129WTo investigate further the reasons for the increase I have arranged, in association with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, for an inquiry based on police records and experience to be carried out by the Social Survey Division of the Central Office of Information. The main object of the inquiry will be to throw light on the nature of behaviour leading to convictions of drunkenness, and any special characteristics of the people involved. It is planned to ascertain what effect changes in the behaviour of particular groups of people are having on drunkenness convictions, and to examine other factors which may have a bearing on the problem.