§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to extend day centres for offenders for whom prison is not necessary, and to provide the probation and after-care service with sufficient resources for the purpose.
§ Dr. Summerskill:Day centres as distinct from day training centres provide supportive facilities for ex-offenders and people on probation but are not intended as alternatives to custody. Within the limited resources available, encouragement is being given to the probation service and voluntary organisations to provide more such centres. The hon. Member may, however, be referring to the four experimental day training centres established under the Powers of the Criminal Courts Act 1973, attendance at which may be a requirement of a probation order. Their future is being kept under consideration but because of their relatively high running costs there are at present no plans to extend the experiment.