§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for section 79 grants for probation hostels have been made since the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 became law; how many grants have been made; and which projects have been financed.
§ Mr. Ancramasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many applications have been made for grants under section 79 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980;
(2) how many grants have been made under section 79 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980; and what was the nature of the projects.
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§ Mr. John MacKayTwo firm applications for specific grant in terms of section 79 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 have been received since it came into operation on 1 February 1981. Approval in principle has been given to Strathclyde regional council for the provision of residential accommodation for persons under supervision as part of a joint resource centre for offenders to be operated by a voluntary organisation. The other application, from Lothian regional council, was subsequently withdrawn when a bid to purchase premises was unsuccessful.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will use his powers under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980, section 79, to make 100 per cent. grants to finance the spread of probation hostels in order to reduce the incidence of custodial sentences.
§ Mr. John MacKayNo. The 80 per cent. level of grant represents a fair balance between central and local government in contributing to the total cost of providing hostels.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the probation hostels currently in use in Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacKayThere are two hostels specifically for offenders under supervision in Scotland, operated by the Lothian Allelon Society in Edinburgh and the Grampian Allelon Society in Aberdeen: grant for their running is provided by the Scottish Office and the regional councils concerned. In addition, it is common practice to make use for this purpose of hostel accommodation provided for a range of client groups.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what priority he gives to the reduction of the use of expensive penal establishments through the establishment of probation hostels in the regions of Scotland.
§ Mr. John MackayThe provision of probation hostels is one of a number of developments whereby the courts may have available a range of non-custodial disposals for offenders who might otherwise be sent to a penal
Homicides recorded by the police currently classified as murder, and number cleared up. Scotland—Cases recorded as Murder 1978 1979 1980* 1981* Police Area Recorded Cleared up Recorded Cleared up Recorded Cleared up Recorded Cleared up Central 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 Dumfries and Galloway 1 1 3 3 1 — 1 1 Fife 1 1 — — — — 2 2 Grampian 4 3 1 1 1 1 3 1 Lothian and Borders 3 3 3 3 6 6 6 5 Northern 2 2 — — — — 1 1 Strathclyde 26 23 25 23 33 33 21 21 Tayside 3 3 4 3 3 2 4 3 Scotland 41 37 38 35 45 43 39 35 * Figures for 1980 and 1981 are provisional in that a few cases are still subject to court proceedings and may be classified as a crime other than murder when proceedings are complete.