§ Sir K. Josephasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far he accepts the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders in its Report on Alternatives to Short Terms of Imprisonment that when the opportunity of amending legislation arises the present limit of twelve hours' attendance at an attendance centre should be increased.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe recommendation in the Report to which my hon. Friend refers related to the 17–21 age group, for whom an experimental attendance centre is being established as soon as accommodation can be found. I shall consider this recommendation very carefully in the light of the experience of the working of the centre.
§ Sir K. Josephasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far he accepts the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders in their Report on Alternatives to Short Terms of Imprisonment that Section 17 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, should be extended to adult first offenders.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am giving careful thought to this recommendation, but I cannot yet make any further statement.