§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will commission a study to establish the number and proportion of cases in which a community service order has been recommended by a court but in which no place has been available on a community service order scheme.
§ Mr. RifkindSince 1979 steady progress has been naintained in developing community service schemes which now exist in all regions covering most of the densely populated areas. I hope that, subject to compliance with aggregrate expenditure planning figures, local authorities will continue to develop community service with the assistance of the specific grant paid by the Government. Authorities may find it helpful to undertake local assessments but I see no need at present for a national study of the kind proposed by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total cost of the community service order scheme in each year for which records are available; and what proportion of that cost has been met by Exchequer contribution in each of these years.
§ Mr. RifkindThe costs of community service by offender schemes operated by local authorities in terms of56W the Community Service by Offenders (Scotland) Act 1978, giving the total and proportional costs between the Exchequer and local authorities, are detailed below. The rate of Exchequer grant is 80 per cent.
Years Local Authority £ Exchequer £ Total £ 1980–81 *64,000 257,238 *321,238 1981–82 *157,000 630,588 *788,588 1982–83 195,506 782,022 977,528 1983–84 252,412 1,009,649 1,262,061 1984–85 324,428 1,297,712 1,622,140 * Estimated.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many community service orders have been made by sheriff courts in each of the last four years for which records are available.
§ Mr. RifkindThe information is set out in the table below:
Year Community Service Orders Community Service as a Condition of Probation 1981 1,070 141 1982 1,910 110 1983 1,958 90 1984 2,354 129
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland which sheriff courts are not able to make community service orders.
§ Mr. RifkindCommunity service schemes are drawn up and operated by local authority social work departments. Schemes exist in all sheriff court districts with the exception of the following: Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Stranraer, Oban, Rothesay, Dunnoon and Campbeltown.
The making of orders relating to individual offenders depends on a number of factors, including the nature of the offence and the availability of a suitable placement and supervising staff.