§ Baroness Gardner of Parkesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What grants they intend to make to reparation and mediation projects in respect of an offender and his victim.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)We believe that direct reparation by an offender to his victim has a useful role to play in the criminal justice system. To promote the idea, and to help in appraising how it might usefully be developed, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary decided last year that we should fund some experimental schemes. 1203WA We have now offered grants, totalling about £100,000 a year for two years, to four projects, proposed by the Crypt Association, Wolverhampton and the Cumbria, West Midlands and West Yorkshire Probation Services.
The Cumbria scheme aims to divert juveniles from prosecution where reparation to the victim is agreed and made. The others envisage reparation by a convicted adult offender which would be associated with an order of the court. In all cases the victim's consent will be an essential condition of his or her participation. Since the schemes will be experimental, grants will be paid for two years only. The precise sums to be paid to each scheme will depend upon the terms and conditions agreed following discussions with the Home Office.
We are aware that a great deal of interest in promoting reparation is being shown in different parts of the country and that work is being done or proposed independently of Home Office funding. We have received many worthwhile proposals which we have been unable to fund, but we hope that the Government's support for these schemes will serve to encourage others.