§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Prime Minister why the Secretary of State for the Home Department approved the Birmingham overnight shelter under section 34 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972; in what circumstances such approvals are made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department and in what circumstances by the Secretary of State for Social Services; and whether there has been any change in departmental responsibilities for the provision of places for habitual drunks.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Secretary of State for the Home Department approved the Birmingham shelter under section 34 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972—as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1977—because its primary purpose is to provide overnight accommodation for people who would otherwise be arrested and charged with drunkenness offences. The Secretary of State for Social Services approved the experimental detoxification centres whose primary purpose was medical treatment. There has been no change in departmental responsibilities.