§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals he has to introduce minimum standards or qualifications for persons offering parenting classes; and if he will make a statement; [15278]
(2) what proposals he has to set down minimum requirements for the content and duration of training and guidance sessions for parents as described in the consultation paper "Tackling Youth Crime"; and if he will make a statement. [15279]
§ Mr. MichaelReform of the youth justice system is one of the Government's key priorities. At the heart of our approach to youth crime are a determination to reassert the importance of personal and social responsibility with more emphasis placed on making young offenders and their parents take more responsibility for their actions. Up to now, insufficient help or attention has been given to parents to change offending behaviour by their children. Action will include the introduction of a new parenting order which will help parents to accept their responsibilities for the behaviour of their children.
The parenting order will contain two elements. There will be an element which allows the court to direct that parents exercise control over their children and an element which allows the court to impose a requirement on parents to attend training and guidance sessions. This latter element of the order can last up to three months and require the parent to attend for no more than one session in any one week. The order will be supervised by a responsible officer who will, in the short term, probably be a member of the Social Services Department. In the longer term, it is envisaged that following the 644W (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997; and if he will provide a breakdown to show (1) air fares and (2) other expenditure relating to overseas travel. [15235]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 11 November 1997]: The available information on overseas travel and related expenditure is as follows:
establishment of Youth Offender Teams it will be a member from those teams. We intend to include proposals for the parenting order and the establishment of Youth Offender Teams in the forthcoming Crime and Disorder Bill.
It is envisaged that a Responsible Officer will arrange for the provision of guidance sessions for parents. The introduction of Parenting Orders will be piloted. No decision has yet been made on how we will conduct the pilot exercise. The pilots will allow us to consider appropriate guidance on the best use of the Parenting Order and on standards to be met.