§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how the operation of the current system for granting bail for alleged sex/child abuse offenders operates; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 26 April 1993]: Decisions regarding court bail, whatever the offence charged, are a matter for the courts in the exercise of their judicial discretion within the terms of the Bail Act 1976. That Act establishes a defendant's right to bail. It is for the prosecution to put forward arguments opposing bail, taking account of information provided by the police and, where appropriate, the probation service.
The Probation Service strategy document "Supervision of sex offenders", issued in 1992 specifically stresses the high priority that must be given to checking information relevant to bail where a person is charged with sexual offences, particularly if the case involves potential child victims.
The Government are determined that bail decisions taken at all levels should be based on the best possible information. That is why we have established five bail process projects which are designed to identify ways of improving the process and in the flow of information available to the courts.