§ 10. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many open remand homes now exist; approximately how many male and female young delinquents these accommodate; what percentage abscond; and, in the light of experience, what extension of the experiment is to be made.
§ Mr. EdeThe 86 remand homes in England and Wales provide places for 1,462 boys and 402 girls. Figures showing the number of children who at one time or another in 1949 were in remand homes are not available, but the total must be greater than the number of places, since many children are in for short periods only. Some 634 boys and 277 girls absconded in 1949. Remand homes are not classified into open and closed institutions, but the general policy is to rely as little as possible on physical means of restraint to prevent absconding, and this policy is kept under review in the light of experience.
§ Mr. SorensenI do not think that my right hon. Friend has answered the last part of my Question, which was:
in the light of experience, what extension of the experiment is to me made?Is it to be extended still further?
§ Mr. EdeI thought the answer implied that there was no experiment. The remand homes are not divided into two classes. As little physical restraint as possible is applied.