§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the progress that has been made 190W in implementing the proposals of Command Paper No. 6494.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe proposals in the White Paper Command 6494 concern a number of Departments. Action has already been taken or is imminent on a number of those which are primarily the responsibility of my Department. Earlier this year I made an order which prohibits girls under 15 being remanded to Prison Department establishments and I hope shortly to prescribe by order conditions for the issue of certificates of unruliness. The Criminal Law Bill contains proposals for fine enforcement in respect of juveniles and we intend to add, by amendment, changes in the law to increase the effectiveness and flexibility of supervision. A modest increase in the number of juvenile attendance centres is planned. Consultations, in some of which I myself have taken part, are proceeding with the various bodies concerned with the working of the 1969 Act on a number of subjects, notably the problem of serious and persistent juvenile offenders and national and local arrangements for consultation.