Clause 16 - Parenting contracts: local authorities and registered social landlords
Police and Justice Bill
2:30 pm
Martin Horwood (Shadow Minister (Environment), Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)
The Minister knows that I support the use of early intervention to tackle such problems at an early stage. One of the Government’s best initiatives since they were first elected has been the Sure Start programme, which has done enormously good work in trying to tackle problems at an early stage. It is mischievous of Labour Members to interpret certain votes in the past, which related to other parts of legislation that was under consideration at the time, as opposition to ASBOs. My party has never opposed the appropriate use of ASBOs, and the record will show that—I can probably send it to the right hon. Lady.
The Minister seems to be objecting to things that I did not say. The amendments suggest making an assessment of need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. Why does she think that that cannot form a part of the early intervention process?