§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were serving probation orders at the latest convenient date; and how this compares with the figures for each of the previous seven years.
§ Mr. Brittan[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1980, c. 635–6]: The number of persons serving probation orders on 31 December of the years 1973 to 1978, and who were aged 17 and under 21 when orders were imposed, is as follows:
1973 21,480 1974 20,896 1975 20,013 1976 18,404 1977 16,703 1978 15,366 Figures for earlier years are not available and the figure for 1979 is not yet available.