§ 22. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are currently held in remand centres.
§ Dr. SummerskillOn 31st May 1978, there were 2,390 persons in remand centres in England and Wales.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonHow much overcrowding do those figures reveal? Second, can the Minister comment on the advice given by a Home Office official to Newbury magistrates recently not to sentence a young person to a remand centre because of overcrowding? Can she say how frequently such advice is given?
§ Dr. SummerskillI agree that there is overcrowding and that there is an urgent need for more remand centres. In fact, three remand centres will be providing extra places in future. Glen Parva will provide 360 and Thorp Arch and Low Newton will also provide more places. It is the Government's firm intention, as soon as possible, to see the end of the remanding of people under 17 years to Prison Department establishments, but that requires accommodation elsewhere.
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkIs my hon. Friend aware that she said such things more than four years ago? Is she not ashamed that there are still today in prisons and remand centres schoolboys and schoolgirls who have not been convicted of any offence? Will she now take far more purposeful steps than she and others of my right hon. and hon. Friends have been prepared to take in the past to ensure that no schoolchild goes into prison on remand?
§ Dr. SummerskillIn the past four years, within the economic restraints which the Government have faced, there has been much improvement in the number of places in remand centres. But we shall need still more before a satisfactory position is reached.