HC Deb 05 May 1969 vol 783 c40W
Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation to make financial restitution to the victims of violence in the first place the responsibility of guilty assailants.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

The criminal courts already have power in some circumstances to require assailants to compensate their victims; but there are practical obstacles to the use of this power on a wide scale. Whether more can be done generally to secure reparation by offenders is a matter on which my right hon. Friend is awaiting a report from the Advisory Council on the Penal System.