HC Deb 18 March 1971 vol 813 c1635
16. Mr. Edward Lyons

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the facilities for psychiatric treatment at borstal institutions.

Mr. Carlisle

Work has recently started on a new establishment at Glen Parva, near Leicester, which will include a hospital and have good facilities for psychiatric treatment for young offenders. Increasing use is being made of the facilities already available in five training borstals and at the psychiatric establishment at Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire.

Mr. Lyons

I am grateful for that information. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Her Majesty's judges still find themselves having to send people over 17 and under 21 to prison rather than to borstals because of the inadequate facilities for psychiatric treatment in borstals? Will he accept it as a great priority to see that the situation is remedied swiftly?

Mr. Carlisle

I was not aware of that until the hon. Gentleman said so. There are four boys' borstals which have full-time officers for psychiatric treatment. They are Feltham, Rochester, Portland and Lowdham Grange.