asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to set up a psychiatric research unit to study convicted criminals in order to investigate the causes and thus help to prevent the commission of future crimes.

A considerable amount of research is already being done by psychiatrists and psychologists into the causes of delinquency, and where appropriate Home Office support is given by means of research grants and the provision of facilities. My right hon. Friend is not convinced that he should at present institute a new unit specialising in this aspect of criminological research.