To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of the Government's antisocial behaviour legislation in problem areas; and if she will make a statement. (174008)

I have been asked to reply.

The Home Office is responsible for policy on tackling antisocial behaviour. Earlier this year a survey of 1,000 practitioners was conducted to assess the impact of the Respect programme on local communities. The outcome was that:

92 per cent. of practitioners felt more was being done in their areas to tackle ASB compared with three years ago;

79 per cent. had the backing of their community in tackling antisocial behaviour;

73 per cent. felt the right kinds of tools and powers were available to them to tackle antisocial behaviour, and;

41 per cent. felt that better partnership/multi-agency approaches have made a difference in tackling antisocial behaviour.

We have appointed IPSOS Mori to undertake a qualitative study investigating the circumstances in which different antisocial behaviour interventions are most effective. The outcome is to be published in 2008. In the meantime three independent reports have confirmed our approach to tackling antisocial behaviour is working. These were the Home Affairs Select Committee report (2005), the Audit Commission report (May 2006) and the NAO report (December 2006).