§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what figures is based the Minister of State's statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT, column 819 of 16th January 1974, that in a significant 70W majority of cases investigated by the questionnaire on the use of social inquiry reports launched in February 1973 reports were supplied; and whether this statement applies to each of the categories specified in Home Office circulars 188 and 189 of 1968.
§ Mr. CarlisleReturns from five of the probation and after-care areas in the survey indicated that social inquiry reports were not called for in only about one-quarter of the cases in the recommended categories, and this suggested that reports were supplied in a significant majority of all such cases. A detailed analysis of cases in each of the recommended categories is not available.
§ Mr. Dellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT a comparison between the use of social inquiry reports as established by the 1972 Home Office research unit survey based on a November 1970 sample of offenders and any comparable figures which have emerged from the investigation into the use of social inquiry reports launched in February 1973.
§ Mr. CarlisleI am having the results of the two surveys further examined to see how far comparisons may be possible and I shall write to the right hon. Member.