HC Deb 16 July 1997 vol 298 cc175-6W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money he has allocated for the prevention of youth crime for 1997–98; and what were the equivalent figures for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [8432]

Mr. Michael

Not all the expenditure on youth crime initiatives can be separated out from Home Office programmes. A total of £1,723,000 is committed for 1997–98 for such programmes, much of which will support initiatives of this kind.

This is divided between the core funding of Crime Concern, which takes particular interest in youth crime prevention, although the Home Office funding is for the organisation's running costs rather than for the direct support of initiatives; the Home Office's Programme Development Unit which supports innovative projects aimed at reducing criminality among young people; the Safer Cities programme and support for two Home Start projects.

The equivalent figure for (a) 1995–96 was £1,800,000; and for (b) 1996–97 it was £1,695,000.

Future expenditure plans will be considered in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review.