§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he intends to issue guidance to magistrates to enable them to recognise young thugs suitable for short, sharp sentences;
(2) if he will list the organisations that he has consulted about the introduction of short, sharp sentences for young thugs;
(3) if he has consulted the Prison Officers' Association, the Magistrates' Association and trade unions representing social workers about the introduction of short, sharp sentences for young thugs;
5W(4) if he will now define the meaning of a short, sharp sentence for young thugs;
(5) which of Her Majesty's prison establishments will be designated for young thugs to serve their short, sharp sentences; and if prison staff will be specially trained to deal with them;
(6) if legislation will be necessary to sentence young thugs to short, sharp sentences;
(7) when he intends to introduce short, sharp sentences for young thugs; how many such offenders he estimates there are in the United Kingdom; and if he will give the figures region by region.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe Government are actively considering how best to give effect to their intention to experiment with a tougher regime in certain detention centres and will make their proposals known in due course.