HC Deb 16 April 1970 vol 799 cc1550-2
7. Mr. Dance

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the closure of the women's wing at Brockhill Remand Centre, what proposals he now has to provide remand facilities for women in the Midlands.

31. Mr. Montgomery

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he now has for providing a remand centre for women in the West Midlands area.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Having reviewed this question my right hon. Friend accepts that remand accommodation should be provided in the Midlands for women, but cannot give the proposal immediate priority over the other even more urgent claims on resources.

Mr. Dance

Is not the Minister aware that most of these women are now housed here in London at Holloway, which is over a hundred miles from where their trials take place and that many of them are mentally disturbed? In view of the high expense involved in bringing solicitors and lawyers to London and providing police escorts, and the general inconvenience to all concerned, should not something be done forthwith without any more delay?

Mr. Rees

There are less than 250 women and girls now remanded in custody all over the country. The geographical distribution of this small number of women raises a similar problem in East Anglia, in Wales and in Cornwall. In the longer term when it is proved necessary to have a remand centre we will look sympathetically at the Midlands.

Mr. Montgomery

I thank the Under Secretary for his answer, in which he promised that something will be done eventually. Could he not be more forthcoming and give us a clearer indication of when action will be taken? A woman in my constituency was recently put into a distressing mental state through having to be hauled up to Risley every day. May we have an assurance from the hon. Gentleman that this matter will be treated urgently?

Mr. Rees

I repeat that there is a similar problem in all parts of the country because of the small number of women concerned. When a new remand centre is proved to be required in the longer term, we will look sympathetically at the needs of the Midlands.

Mr. Hogg

I know that the hon. Gentleman is a very humane man. Does he not realise that after these women have completed their journey they have to take part in a criminal trial or in preliminary proceedings in which they are defendants? Is it not intolerable to ask such a person, after having travelled 200 miles in a day, to be subjected to a criminal trial?

Mr. Rees

This has been happening for a very long time. It is not a new subject. The indignation of the right hon. and learned Gentleman therefore is new in this respect. There is a problem, but it arises out of the low criminal rate amongst women. I would point out that there is short-term accommodation in most parts of the country. I agree there is a problem, but we have to look at other priorities.

Mr. Dance

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.