§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will establish a test project in the Harwood area of Bolton involving all the relevant local authorities and services, together with parents, to identify potential young offenders with the aim of developing a strategy for reducing the incidence of youth crime;
(2) how many projects are currently, or will shortly be in operation, as part of the Government's campaign to reduce the youth crime rate; and if he will list them by area and specification.
§ Mr. John PattenThere are many local initiatives which can contribute to preventing offending, including police schemes for activities for school children during the holidays and projects for reducing offending by young people, some of them funded through the probation service and the Government's safer cities programme. My right hon. Friend is exploring what more can be done further to develop policies for reducing the number of crimes committed by young people.