An investigation of the cross-section for polarized neutrons scattered by a magnetic material is reported. Included in the investigation are the cross-sections for elastic (Bragg), total, and inelastic scattering processes. Special attention is paid to the information available on the chiral character of magnetic states. It is possible that the magnetic response function (also known as the spin van Hove function) is spatially anisotropic, in which case the observed signals are different for the scattering wave vectors k and . This situation can arise with materials in which the magnetic ions are not at centres of inversion symmetry, and when the magnetic order is not collinear, e.g. a helimagnet.