§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements now exist to obtain psychiatric reports on persons charged with 95W offences; to what extent such persons are committed to prison for these reports; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleRegional hospital boards provide courts with a list of psychiatric clinics able to provide reports on defendants remanded on bail. Where the court considers that a remand in custody is necessary, a report can be obtained from the prison medical officer. 11,953 defendants were committed in custody for psychiatric reports during 1972. Four establishments in England and Wales have arrangements for prison medical officers to examine and report on defendants who have been allowed bail.
Administrative measures have been taken over the past two years to reduce so far as practicable the number of persons remanded in custody for reports and the length of such remands.