§ 21. Mr. Danceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for using the premises formerly occupied as the Women's Wing at Brock hill Remand Centre; and whether he will consider their use for Borstal boys at present serving their sentences at Win-son Green Prison.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe intention is to use these premises to provide increased accommodation at Brock hill for young offenders, including those who now go to Win son Green Prison to await admission to borstal allocation or recall centres.
§ Mr. DanceIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many very knowledgable people consider it quite crazy to have closed the women's branch of the remand home? However, his reply will give a certain amount of satisfaction to my constituents.
§ Mr. MorganThis matter was the subject of an Adjournment debate some months ago. The wing was closed, not for the purpose of providing additional accommodation for boys, but because the Department found it impossible to provide adequate nursing cover for women and girls.
§ Mrs. KnightWill the hon. Gentleman admit that there was absolutely no statute and no rule which forced him to close Brock hill to women? Bearing in mind the need for accommodation and the grievous suffering inflicted on women without this accommodation being avail able, will he now say that he was wrong and will consider reopening it to women?
§ Mr. MorganWe were forced to close it not by statute but by circumstances.