§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the final report of the Advisory Council on the Penal System on the operation of detention centres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe report is being published today. It re-examines the concept of detention centres; considers the categories of young offenders for whom detention centres are suitable; and makes 389W detailed recommendations on their operation. I am most grateful to the Advisory Council, and in particular to the Chairman and members of the Sub-Committee on Detention Centres, for this important and helpful report.
The report draws attention to the difficulty of examining the detention centre system in isolation from the treatment of young offenders generally and recommends that there should be a general review of the methods of treatment of young offenders. I have already announced, on 25th July last year in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Abertillery (Mr. Clifford Williams), my intention to institute a wider review of the methods of treatment of young offenders aged 17 and over, with particular reference to the system of custodial treatment. This task will be undertaken by the Advisory Council.
I accept the council's view that, pending the outcome of this review, the existing power to order detention in a detention centre for young men should be retained. I also welcome the redefinition of the aims and philosophy of detention centres and hope that detention centre training will continue to develop along the positive lines approved by the council.
I am giving careful study to the Advisory Council's more detailed recommendations.