§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made to date in halving the time taken from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders; when he expects it to be achieved; and if he will make a statement. [122036]
§ Mr. BoatengIn 1996, the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days. The Government are committed to halving this by March 2002. We are making continuing good progress—the national average had fallen to 108 days in 1999.
A copy of the latest figures has been placed in the Library.