HC Deb 22 January 1980 vol 977 cc105-6W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what subjects the Crime Policy Planning Unit compiled reports; and if these will be published.

Mr. Whitelaw

Subjects with which the Crime Policy Planning Unit has recently been concerned include the prospects for the criminal justice system over the next decade; ways of reducing the prison population; and the development of a co-ordinated criminal justice research programme. The unit is not primarily engaged in producing formal reports, but contributes in a variety of ways to the work of the Department as a whole. I have no plans at present to publish any material arising from the unit's work.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that other Departments are represented on the committees of the Crime Policy Planning Unit to ensure that the importance of education, social services, employment and housing are fully taken into account in planning crime prevention policy.

Mr. Whitelaw

The Crime Policy Planning Unit, like the rest of the Home Office, retains close contacts with other Departments on all subjects of common interest, including crime prevention. There is no set practice about how other Departments are associated with the unit's work, and I think it best to leave the arrangements flexible.