HC Deb 10 December 1974 vol 883 cc213-4
2. Mr. Charles Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she is taking to ensure sufficient secure accommodation is provided for disturbed young boys and girls.

The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Dr. David Owen)

We have already given, and will continue to give, the highest possible priority to secure units in community homes. Construction of two new youth treatment centres, which are to be administered by the Department for children in local authority care who require special facilities, is planned to begin in 1975 and 1976 respectively, and the existing centre is to be enlarged.

Mr. Irving

Is the Minister fully aware of the gravity of the situation? It is nothing short of a national scandal that 425 boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 16 are in adult prisons and remand homes because of the lack of secure accommodation provided by local authorities.

Dr. Owen

I am well aware of the problem. The House discussed it and related issues yesterday, but it is very complex and the Government are treating it with great seriousness.

Mrs. Renée Short

Is my hon. Friend aware that the directors of social services have already protested at the effect of the December 1973 cuts on their building programme for secure homes? It is essential to restore this capital expenditure as soon as possible.

Dr. Owen

My hon. Friend is right. We have restored the December cuts of the previous Government. We have given an extra £1.5 million to these projects. I regret that they have not included as large a number of secure units as I had hoped. We had to be selective, and we could not give aid in other areas where we are equally pressed.

Mr. Steen

Will the Secretary of State make money available by way of direct grant rather than through the rate support scheme, in which the money tends to be lost and to be used for other purposes?

Dr. Owen

Capital expenditure is already a key sector allocation for the social services. Revenue is dealt with through the rate support grant. If the hon. Gentleman studies the formula to be applied for next year, he will see that we have made special provision for children. I hope that it will be enough. We are sensitive to the demands made on local authorities by the rise in juvenile delinquency.

Sir G. Howe

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm figures given to me to the effect that the number of places available in community homes at the end of June this year was about 2,000 fewer than at the end of March last year, and that the number of places occupied in community homes at the end of June this year was 200 fewer than at the end of March last year? Will he also confirm that this reduction may be due to the laudable intention to raise staffing standards in community homes but that it is dangerous to try to press too far in that direction if the consequence is to increase the number of young people held in prison?

Dr. Owen

I shall write to the right hon. and learned Gentleman with the exact figures. There has been the trend he indicates, and we shall have to examine the question of balance between standards and providing accommodation. The issue was discussed with the regional planning committees when I met them in the summer.