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offenderis suitable for detention in a detention centre but
that no place is available for him there. This new provision
will avoid the need to send to prison a youngster who is suitable
for a detention centre but cannot go there because a place is
not available.
As a further alternative, the Bill provides that an
offender of any age, convicted under section 33, may be sentenced
to corporal punishment.
These amendments will provide a wider range of penalties
for use by the courts in accordance with the circumstances of
the individual case, while at the same time maintaining the
principle that severe punishment is unavoidable for any person
found guilty of this particular offence.
Sir, I move that the debate on this motion be now
adjourned.