asked the Attorney-General if he will call a sentencing conference to discuss with magistrates the policy of sending young offenders to junior and senior attendance centres, particularly those involved in hooliganism and vandalism.

Sentencing conferences and sentencing exercises for magistrates are held periodically. Most of these are convened locally, and all magistrates in the area are invited to attend. On these occasions the magistrates consider the sentences which should be imposed in respect of the offences normally arising in the area concerned. Particular attention is given to crimes involving violence, and the advantages of attendance centres for appropriate cases are well known to magistrates. My noble Friend regards the present arrangements in this respect as satisfactory and sees no reason to convene a special conference to discuss the use of attendance centres for cases of hooliganism and vandalism or otherwise.