§ 42. Mr. Somerville Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that children of eight years of age are admitted to remand homes for minor offences, such as petty thefts or non-attendance at school, or even on a statement by parents that they are beyond control; that in these remand homes these children consort with adolescents who are becoming hardened criminals; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeIn some areas, junior and senior boys are accommodated in separate remand homes or as separate groups in the same home, and arrangements of this kind are encouraged where practicable. The staff of remand homes exercise close supervision, and the Remand Home Rules require that any child likely to have a bad influence over others is to be kept in separation. The Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Bill, if passed into law, will enable local authorities to arrange for children under 12 to be sent to reception centres provided under the Children Act instead of to remand homes.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise the harm that is at present being done to these very young children, who look upon the elder delinquents with whom they associate as heroes?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI have said that wherever possible the attempt is made to keep them separate, and where that has not been practicable because of the small numbers and the nature of the premises, the timetable and supervision arrangements are usually designed to secure substantial separation of the older from the younger boys. The hon. Gentleman is, of course, Chairman of the Committee of Stamford House, the largest remand home, which is provided by the L.C.C.; and if he can give me any suggestions for improving the procedure, as we are all anxious to do, I shall be very happy to consider them.
§ Mr. AsshetonIs it really the case that schoolchildren of eight years of age are sent to remand homes for non-attendance at school?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI will look into that point.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes not the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that the statements contained in my Question are in many cases true, and will he not consider the desirability at once of sending out a circular to those concerned to encourage them to carry out the suggestions which he has already made to the House?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeIn fairness to those who have control, I should like to say that they are doing their best to carry that out. As the hon. Gentleman 2549 knows, the Remand Home Rules require care to be taken to keep in separation any child who is likely to exercise a bad influence. I will, however, consider the hon. Member's suggestion. The end is one that we all desire, and I will consider any method of improvement.