§ 15. Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors governed the time taken to produce the figures covering the number of people in the Metropolitan police district prosecuted in 1988 for begging under section 3 of the Vagrancy Act 1824; when he plans to make the 1989 figures available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Home Office collects returns from all police forces covering each defendant appearing in court for a criminal offence. Information for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990. The Home Office is examining whether information could be provided directly from the courts, so reducing delays.