§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received from the United States on the effectiveness of boot camps. [30987]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythCopies of the readily available published reports have been placed in the Library. I have also received advice from officials.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the findings of his Department about boot camps. [30985]
§ Mr. ForsythMy right hon. and learned Friend hopes to be able to make an announcement shortly.
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has conducted as to the proportion of inmates in youth detention centres in the early 1980s who had been(a) in care and (b) were illiterate; and what are the implications of these findings for boot camps. [30986]
§ Mr. ForsythA report, "Tougher Regimes in Detention Centres", was produced in 1984. This report incorporated findings as to the proportion of inmates found to have been in care or illiterate in six detention centres during the period May 1979 to September 1980. In 1991, the national prison survey found that the proportion of young offender population who had spent time in care was very similar to that shown by the 1984 report.
A proposal to introduce a new regime for young offenders based on the more positive aspects of American boot camps is under consideration. Any new regime that is introduced will take into account current knowledge about the backgrounds and attainments of young offenders.