§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his Department has made any study of the weekend detention system which operates in Australia; whether he has any plans to make this type of punishment available to magistrates; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will introduce a pilot scheme of weekend detention; what facilities he has available to him for the operation of such a scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorIn our consideration of intermittent custody we have taken account of experience in several overseas countries, but have made no study specifically of the systems which I understand exist in two Australian states. My right hon. and learned Friend is giving careful consideration to the responses he has received to the Green Paper published last year.