Mr. Alex CarlisleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Audit Commission report "Misspent Youth, Young People and Crime". [7507]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 9 December 1996]: The Government welcome the Audit Commission's recommendations on a strategy for early intervention to deal with children and young people at risk of offending. The Government will be proposing this approach in a Green Paper to be published shortly. The Government do not agree with the proposition that it is right to caution repeat offenders; they should be brought before the courts to face the consequences of their crimes.