§ 10. Mr. Crawshawasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue guidance to local authorities on the danger involved in sending to a remand home a child whose only offence has been that of truancy.
§ Miss BaconLocal authorities have been reminded by my Department that they should consider other possibilities before having recourse to a remand home for the temporary accommodation of children in care. I do not think there is need for further general guidance, but I am writing to my hon. Friend about a case which he has brought to my attention.
§ Mr. CrawshawI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. May I also thank her and the Department for the considerable amount of care which they took over 1649 this case? Is she satisfied that local authorities are trying to segregate these girls, particularly the younger ones, from the older girls who have been earning a living on the streets?
§ Miss BaconIf it comes to our notice that girls of this kind are put with the more innocent type of girl, we certainly take steps, through our inspectors, to draw the attention of the local authority to it. That has been done in the case of the remand home which my hon. Friend has in mind. I emphasise that local authorities are responsible for the provision and running of remand homes.