§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards shifting public expenditure on the administration of justice and prisons to more cost effective methods of dealing with crime such as a better paid probation service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIt is my policy to build up the use, as an alternative to imprisonment, of non-custodial measures including those that make a demand on the probation services and its resources; but in present circumstances, given the heavy load on the prison system, I see no prospect of reducing expenditure there as a means of financing non-custodial alternatives.