§ 2. Sir R. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total number of prisons, Borstals, approved schools, detention centres and other penal establishments in England and Wales; the average number of such penal establishments in each administrative county of England and Wales; and how many penal establishments are already existing in Dorset.
§ Mr. VosperThe total number of prisons, Borstals, detention centres, approved schools and remand homes in England and Wales is 250. The average number in each administrative county is 4.3. The number already existing in Dorset is three.
§ Sir R. GlynWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the presence of these establishments causes a certain amount of inconvenience in the neighbourhood, owing to the activities of the people who escape from them, and is a burden on the local police forces? Would not my right hon. Friend agree that a small county like Dorset should not have any further penal establishments introduced into it?
§ Mr. VosperMy hon. Friend may have in mind, of course, the open Borstal at Shaftesbury whioh has just been approved. I do not think that the number of these establishments in Dorset is excessive compared with neighbouring authorities, but. of course. I will bear my hon. Friend's point in mind.