§ 15. Mr. tan TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the amounts of crime carried out by teenagers.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Government are continuously developing their programmes to divert young people from268W crime. The Home Office safer cities programme includes schemes directed at reducing young people's involvement in criminal activity. Local activities for young people will be an important feature of the national crime prevention week to be held in April. We are also working with the Department of Education and Science who are considering measures to reduce truancy. However, some parents could do more to influence and control their children's behaviour, and the emphasis on parental responsibility in the Criminal Justice Bill will encourage them to do so.