§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2004,Official Report, column 1290W, on sentences, whether the extension of penalty fines to 10 to 16-year-olds outlined in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 will be introduced before the publication of the evaluation of the operation of the scheme for 16 to 17-year-olds. [155451]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 24 February 2004]: We will be evaluating the operation of the scheme for 16 to 17-year-olds, on an interim basis after six months and again after 12 months. We expect to pilot penalty notices for disorder in some areas for 10 to 15-year-olds later this year, taking account of early experience with 16 and 17-year-olds.