§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, further to his statement on the May report, Official Report, 31 October 1979, column 1241–44, he will outline the alternatives to custody which his Deparrtment is considering; and what new projects are being established to this end.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am continuing to improve and develop the range of non-custodial alternatives to prison. In particular, I am arranging for new senior 313W attendance centres to be opened for young adult offenders and I am consulting the probation service about how greater use could be made of the probation order as an alternative to custody. Within the limits of available resources, I am also encouraging further provision of day centres, accommodation and other facilities, within both the statutory and the voluntary sector, to aid the diversion of petty offenders from custody and to assist with the rehabilitation of ex-offenders.