§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will seek information about the recent research project in Minneapolis, USA about the relationship between arrest of husbands and instances of battered wives, in the course of his examination of diversion schemes for certain offenders.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI am aware of the findings of the research project in Minneapolis, USA, on the relationship between arrest and the incidence of subsequent matrimonial violence. The committee on328W alternatives to prosecution in its report—Cmnd. 8958—at paragraph 3.29, noted in cases of wife assault that arrest of the offending spouse may afford protection to the other spouse. This is a factor which will be kept in mind when considering the implementation of the committee's recommendations.