JUVENILE JAILS

Early day motion 1758, tabled 18 October 2004 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 45 members.

That this House is alarmed by recent reports that the Government is considering offering out to tender the running of specialist UK juvenile prison institutions, currently dedicated to holding young offenders under the age of 18 years; believes that much privatisation of governmental responsibility, under the guise of greater competition and choice, would be gravely misguided, especially before a proper period of consultation and consideration has been given to such a directive; and calls upon the Government to halt any current plans it has in this respect until such time as it is certain that such a move would be conducive to the best use of resources and consistent with the basic principles of the rehabilitation of offenders.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Liberal Democrat 7, Plaid Cymru 3, Labour/Co-operative 1, UUP 1.