HC Deb 26 January 1989 vol 145 cc672-3W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider introducing an experimental scheme making the attendance at court mandatory for parents of children under the age of 17 years who are on trial.

Mr. John Patten

Where juveniles are charged with criminal offences, it is normally right for their parents to attend court with them. The law already imposes a duty on the court, where it considers the parents' attendance desirable, to require them to attend unless it would be unreasonable to do so.

Forward to