§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there is any recent research indicating the proportion of cases in which courts consider a social inquiry report before imposing custodial sentences on offenders who have not previously received custodial sentences.
§ Mr. BrittanThere is no recent research which provides information on the proportion of cases where a social inquiry report was considered by the courts before passing a first custodial sentence. We are aware that practice varies from area to area, but we are sure that the magistrates' courts have taken note of the recommendation, included in " The Sentence of the Court " that they should consider a social inquiry report before imposing a custodial sentence on an offender who has not previously served a custodial sentence.