§ Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that local authorities have been given freedom of choice in deciding where cuts in spending shall fall, what the responsibility of his Department will be in maintaining the cost for community homes for young offenders.
§ Sir George YoungI have been asked to reply.
There is no reason to change present responsibilities. When local authorities are reviewing their priorities. I would expect them to balance the maintenance of residential places in community homes against the development of intermediate treatment and other community-based methods of dealing with young offenders.