HC Deb 26 April 1971 vol 816 c54W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to make it an offence for any person or persons, on completion of prison sentences, to use for their personal or family advantages any of the stolen possessions.

Mr. Maudling

The law already provides for the restitution of stolen property where this can be identified. I am considering the recommendations of my Advisory Council on the Penal System for rationalising and strengthening the various powers of the courts to order the offender to make reparation, including the proposal for an experimental scheme whereby selected offenders would be made bankrupt with a view to the distribution of their assets to their victims.