§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation amending the present statutory arrangements for the treatment of young offenders by adopting throughout England and Wales the hearing system for children in trouble currently practised in Scotland.
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§ Mr. MellorNo. We believe that there is a need for fuller consideration and discussion of this and other alternatives to the present system (such as the establishment of family courts with some jurisdiction over juvenile offenders, as envisaged by the Social Services Committee in its second report of last Session) before any conclusion is reached.