§ 11. Mr. George Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of Borstal boys involved in the recent dis- 576 turbance in the Cardiff Gaol; how long these boys have been in the prison; and whether steps will now be taken to have them transferred to Borstal institutions.
§ Mr. EdeEight youths have been identified as having taken part in this disturbance and have been dealt with by the Visiting Committee. Two were awaiting trial, while the other. six had been in prison since their conviction for periods from one month to three months. Every effort is being made to reduce the delay in transferring youths sentenced to Borstal detention from prison to Borstal institutions, but it would not be fair or conducive to discipline to transfer these youths at Cardiff Prison out of their turn merely because of their mutinous conduct.
§ Mr. ThomasIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable uneasiness in the City of Cardiff over the fact that these young people are being sent to the prisons when Borstal institutions are obviously the places for any of them, whether they mutiny or not?
§ Mr. EdeOn a number of occasions at Question time I have had to deal with the pressing problem of the shortage of Borstal accommodation, but I cannot allow it to be thought that mutinous conduct in the prison where these boys are temporarily detained would be the quick way of securing passage to a Borstal institution.