§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made by the Social Work Services Group for adequate educational liaison in connection with intermediate treatment schemes.
§ Mr. McElhoneAdvice has been issued by my Department on the need for close liaison between local authority social work departments and the other agencies which may be able to contribute to programmes of intermediate treatment.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many residential units have been established in connection with intermediate treatment schemes to date;
(2) how many intermediate treatment schemes for juveniles have been established; where these are located; and when each commenced.
§ Mr. McElhoneI am sending the hon. Member the information that is available to me about intermediate treatment schemes in existence or planned. It is not comprehensive, since such schemes may be developed on an informal basis locally.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what 536W resources have been transferred from residential care to assist development of intermediate treatment schemes;
(2) how many cases have been referred by children's hearings and by voluntary steering to intermediate treatment centres for juveniles.
§ Mr. McElhoneThis information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the adequacy of powers available to children's hearings to make orders directing children to attend intermediate treatment centres.
§ Mr. McElhoneA child subject to a supervision requirement made by a children's hearing may attend an intermediate treatment centre as a condition of that requirement or at the instigation of the supervising social worker. I consider that, in this respect, the present powers of the hearings are adequate.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what financial aid and services have been made available to local authorities operating intermediate treatment schemes for juveniles;
(2) if he is satisfied with the operation to date of intermediate treatment centres for juveniles; and what proposals he has for extension or contraction of the schemes.
§ Mr. McElhoneIn addition to the resources made available by local authorities, intermediate treatment projects have received grants of approximately £205,000 from my Department over the last five years under the Urban Programme. Over the same period, grants totalling £92,000 have been paid to voluntary organisations in connection with their work in this field. My Department has issued a memorandum of guidance on the development of intermediate treatment programmes, and from time to time arranges conferences and seminars on this subject. Depending on the availability of financial resources, I hope that local authorities and voluntary organisations will continue to develop a broad range of facilities for children subject to supervision requirements made by children's hearings.