§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the use of restorative justice approaches for(a) young offenders and (b) adult offenders; and if he will make a statement. [128541]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeFor young offenders the final warning scheme, reparation order and action plan order under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, were implemented across England and Wales on 1 June 2000; and the referral order under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 is being piloted in seven areas from summer 2000 ahead of national implementation. These measures reflect the restorative justice principles of responsibility, reparation and reintegration in tackling offending and requiring offenders to make amends for their actions. The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales is funding and evaluating a number of local schemes in support of these measures. For adult offenders, community service orders provide the opportunity for offenders to undertake work for the benefit of the community. In addition, a review of best practice, focused on restorative justice schemes for adult offenders, is being undertaken under the Government's crime reduction programme, on the basis of which further schemes may be funded and evaluated.