§ Baroness WOOTTON of ABINGERasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to issue a report on experience to date of the working of the Community Service provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1972; and what progress has been made in extending the operation of these provisions beyond the original experimental areas.
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHA report by the Home Office Research Unit which monitored the initial pilot schemes will be published later this year. I will not anticipate it beyond saying that it establishes that the scheme is viable.
My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has invited probation and after-care committees throughout England and Wales to submit proposals to him for the introduction of arrangements for offenders to perform work under community service orders from 1st April 1975, subject to the availability of adequate local resources. Discussions are now proceeding with probation and after-care committees on the practical implications of introducing community service schemes in their areas.
Meanwhile the Department has issued to the Probation Service as a whole advice and guidance on community service arrangements based on experience gained in the course of the pilot schemes and regional meetings have been held to discuss plans. Following a pilot course, the first ordinary training course for community service organisers begins next month.