§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss the problem of vandalism with Scottish local authorities in the light of the decision by Edinburgh's Housing Committee 178W to employ private security firms to combat vandalism.
§ Mr. William RossI know that this problem is a matter of concern to local authorities, chief constables and others in many parts of the country, and it is being tackled by various means such as special police patrols. The problem varies from place to place; but if local authorities feel that I can help in this matter, I shall willingly consider any proposals they may care to make.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek powers to enable children's panels to require the parents of young people appearing before them and who have damaged, defaced or destroyed property, to ensure that the damage is made good by financial recompense or by the physical removal of the damage.
§ Mr. William RossNo. This question was considered by the Committee on Children and Young Persons, whose report, Cmnd 2306, concluded that it would be inappropriate to introduce a statutory power to order the payment by parents of the cost of repairing damage done by their children.