HC Deb 27 October 1997 vol 299 cc577-8
15. Mr. Letwin

What meetings he and his colleagues have held with voluntary organisations concerned with the administration of justice and the treatment of offenders in the Home Office since 1 May; and if he will make a statement. [11671]

Mr. Michael

Since 1 May, my colleagues and I have held 10 such meetings in the Home Office. We have also attended a number of events outside the Home Office at the invitation of voluntary organisations concerned with the administration of justice and the treatment of offenders.

Mr. Letwin

Does the Minister accept the previous Government's extraordinary record in encouraging voluntary organisations in that sector? Does he have any proposals to improve on the measures that have already been taken?

Mr. Michael

I certainly agree that the measures taken by the previous Government were extraordinary, but voluntary organisations concerned with the administration of justice and the treatment of offenders feel that a great weight has been lifted from their shoulders. We are receiving a great deal of co-operation and enthusiasm from them in our measures to deal with crime and the problems arising from crime.

Mr. O'Hara

Does my hon. Friend the Minister agree that the voluntary sector has an enormously important contribution to make to the implementation of important Government policies, not least in winning back our communities? Will he therefore express my personal appreciation that responsibility for the voluntary sector and volunteering has now returned to the Home Office and to Labour Home Office Ministers who have an appreciation and understanding of that important role, as was most certainly not the case under the previous Government?

Mr. Michael

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his remarks. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary welcomed the return of the voluntary and community unit to the Home Office and there is a great deal of enthusiasm on the part of Ministers for cementing the essential partnership between the voluntary sector and Government.

Mr. Beith

Will Ministers be meeting one of those organisations, the Howard League, to discuss the report that it published today? The report reveals the trebling of the number of teenage girls held in adult prisons, where they are subject to many risks and not provided with adequate rehabilitation. That is especially troubling when many of them are first offenders and could not be described as regular or hardened criminals.

Mr. Michael

We do meet the Howard League regularly and recently I spoke at its conference. The report is interesting. The Howard League takes a particular view on those matters—one that we discuss with it regularly.