§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy regarding the sending of persons to prison merely to see a doctor, where otherwise bail would be granted; and if he will, by advisory circulars, request justices' clerks to compile lists of doctors and psychiatrists in their respective areas willing to prepare reports for courts, in accordance with Home Office circular No. 155/ 1975 "Bail procedures".
§ Mr. BrittanWe endorse the terms of paragraph 11 of the Home Office circular 206/1977, which urges courts to seek all available information before deciding 17W that there is no practicable alternative to a custodial remand for medical reports.
Justices' clerks were asked in paragraph 28 of Home Office circular 155/1975 to compile and keep lists of doctors and psychiatrists willing to prepare reports for courts where such lists were not otherwise available. That request holds good; we are not aware of a need to repeat it.