§ 27. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes in the type of sentence for young offenders.
§ Mr. BrittanThe Government are committed to removing the existing restrictions on the custodial sentencing powers of the courts in respect of young adult offenders. In preparing our proposals, we are considering the previous Administration's Green Paper "Youth Custody and Supervision"—Cmnd. 7406 —and the comments on it, but we are in no sense bound by it. We shall make our own plans known in due course. As regards juvenile offenders, I refer my hon. Friend to the answers to questions earlier today from the hon. Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) and others.
§ 29. Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce details of his plans to increase the custodial sentencing powers of juvenile courts; and whether those plans will be accompanied by additional facilities to receive offenders.
§ Mr. BrittanI refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to questions from the hon. Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) and others. I envisage that the consultations there referred to will embrace the question of the facilities needed to give effect to new powers that might be conferred on the courts.