§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation to increase the number of attendance centres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorSection 16(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 empowers the Secretary of State to continue to 377W provide attendance centres, and no further legislation is required to establish new centres. Since May 1979 the number of attendance centres has been increased from 79 —including two senior centres taking youths aged 17 to 20—to 122—including 15 senior centres. We hope to arrange for six new centres to open in the current financial year, including senior centres in Chelmsford and Coventry; and we plan to continue increasing the number of centres in future years.