HC Deb 18 November 1976 vol 919 cc1557-8
16. Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what pro- gress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations contained in the Eleventh Report of the Expenditure Committee on the working of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The Government's response to the Expenditure Committee's recommendations was given in the White Paper published last May, Cmnd. 6494. The proposals contained in it concern a number of Government Departments. On a number of those which are primarily the concern of my Department, consultations and, where appropriate, other preparatory work are well in hand.

Mr. Sims

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, however, that of the 40 recommendations in the report at least 13 are the direct responsibility of the Home Office, four have been rejected outright, one has been carried out and the remaining eight are still under consideration 14 months after the report was published? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the real concern amongst those dealing with juvenile offenders, and can he inject some sense of urgency into his Department?

Mr. Rees

It was for this reason that I met the Magistrates' Association and others a few weeks ago, and I hope that, not on the points of rejection but on other points, we shall have announcements to make soon.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

When will the remanding of schoolchildren to Prison Service establishments be ended?

Mr. Rees

As soon as I can do it, because I think that it is wrong. But it is not enough to think that it is wrong. We need the proper resources, and they are not available to enable me to do what I want to do.

Mr. Bowden

When the Home Secretary met the representatives of the Magistrates' Association, did they tell him that they were concerned about a lack of facilities to keep violent young offenders under control, and did they urge him to provide more of these facilities?

Mr. Rees

Yes, they did. I made that point earlier in Question Time.