§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the present statutory restrictions on the identification of alleged juvenile offenders who are unlawfully at large.
§ Mr. Michael HowardI cannot comment on any current cases, which are sub judice. As a matter of general policy, the Government take the view that it should be possible, consistent with the need to ensure a fair trial, to identify a juvenile who, having been charged with a serious criminal offence, is unlawfully at large. To the extent that the current law prevents this, we intend to change it, and I shall announce further details in due course.