§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with relevant individuals and bodies on the subject of the notification to statutory and other bodies of the whereabouts of paedophiles. [18215]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe crime and punishment White Paper, Cm 3302, published in June 1996 described our proposed arrangements for sex offenders to register with the police. That White Paper was widely circulated and attracted comments from a considerable number of bodies and it was debated by the Scottish Grand Committee at its sitting in Perth on 17 June 1996, when the hon. Member opened for the Opposition.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for compulsory treatment for paedophile offenders(a) within and (b) outwith prison. [18211]
§ Mr. ForsythWhere an offender is not given a custodial sentence, the courts may require him, as part of a programme of probation supervision, to participate in treatment programmes. Work with offenders given a custodial sentence is carried out in a number of prisons, including Peterhead, Shotts and Barlinnie. The aims of sex offender treatment programmes are to get prisoners to accept personal responsibility for their actions, to address 451W the consequences of their behaviour for their victims, and to develop strategies to exercise self-control and avoid situations likely to lead to reoffending. Such programmes can be effective only if prisoners are willing to engage constructively. Prison staff strongly encourage and challenge prisoners to participate. Progression through the prison system is also dependent on addressing offending behaviour.
Offenders released from prison on licence or where a supervised release order is in force may be required, as a condition of their licence or order, to participate in treatment programmes. Failure to comply with any such condition could result in an offender's return to custody. Measures further to strengthen supervised release orders, so that they will normally be mandatory in the most serious cases of sexual abuse and will last for up to 10 years, are contained in the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill and were debated by the Committee in which the hon. Member took part.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for(a) giving more assistance to the victims of paedophiles and (b) providing them with more information about the whereabouts of their abusers. [18214]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe crime and punishment White Paper, Cm 3302, published in June 1996, outlined a range of measures to support the victims of crime, including the victims of sexual abuse. Some of those measures are already in place and others are being developed. A victims steering group has been established to advise on the development of policy and good practice towards all crime victims. The group's operations were discussed in the Committee considering the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill, in which the hon. Member took part. In addition, as was announced last month, a scheme will come into effect on 1 April 1997 which will enable the victims of serious violent and sexual crimes, if they so wish, to be told of the release of their assailants from prison.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to establish a national paedophile register in Scotland. [18226]
§ Mr. ForsythThe Government's plans have been clear for some time and will, subject to parliamentary approval, soon be implemented. The crime and punishment White Paper, Cm 3302, published in June 1996, noted that the Scottish Criminal Record Office already acts as a register of convicted sex offenders. That includes paedophiles. The White Paper committed the Government to require convicted sex offenders to notify the police of any change of address, so that the register can be kept fully up to date. The Sex Offenders Bill, now before the House, fulfils that commitment, as the hon. Member must be aware from his own involvement on the Committee of the Bill.