§ Mr. Bercow:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the use to date of parenting orders. [130503]
§ Paul Goggins:The Policy Research Bureau's evaluation of the parenting programme sponsored by the Youth Justice Board was published in September 2002. It found a very positive response from parents on Parenting Orders as well as voluntary participants, and improved parenting skills. In the year following counselling and guidance, offences by their children fell by 50 per cent.