§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans for further alternatives to custody; and when he anticipates that Her Majesty's Government will make decisions on implementing the recommendations of the second Stewart committee report.
§ Mr. AncramA wide range of non-custodial disposals is already available to Scottish courts, but we do not exclude possible additional alternatives to imprisonment — such as, for example, intermittent custody. Legislation would be needed to implement any proposals of this kind.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate invited comments on the recommendations of the second report of the Stewart committee on alternatives to prosecution by the end of 1983; not all of those invited have yet responded, but the majority have now done so. The report's recommendations are being considered in the light of these comments, and the Government hope to reach conclusions soon.