§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make regulations under the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, to ensure that all courts before passing sentence ask for a social report on the accused from the responsible probation service.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsCirculars were issued to courts in 1968 recommending that they should consider a social inquiry report before imposing a sentence in certain categories of case. This informal approach was foreshadowed when the relevant provision in the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, was before Parliament; my right hon. Friend is keeping the working of the new arrangements under review.