§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many parenting orders have been made since the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into effect; and whether compulsory counselling and guidance has made parents receiving it more responsible and thus reduced youth crime and anti- social behaviour. [HL4402]
§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal4,047 parenting orders were made between September 1998, when piloting started, and June 2003. The orders were available nationally from June 2000.
Independent evaluation of the Youth Justice Board's parenting programme, which included parents under parenting orders and voluntary participants, has shown improvements in a range of parenting skills. In the year after counselling and guidance, offences by their children fell by 50 per cent. The parenting order has clearly played a significant role in this.