Mrs. Adamsonasked the Home Secretary whether he will state, separately, the number of children at present in approved schools who have been convicted of offences, who are beyond control and who have been found to be in need of care and protection; the number of children sent to approved schools for non-compliance with school attendance orders; and the number of children sent to approved schools under these categories in the past 12 months?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe number of boys and girls in approved schools at the end of November was 10,322, but I regret that separate figures for the categories mentioned are not yet available. I find, however, that of the boys and girls admitted to approved schools in 1941, 4,662 had been guilty of offences, 284 had been found to be beyond control, 280 had been found to be otherwise in need of care or protection and 117 were committed for persistent disregard of a school attendance order.
§ Sir R. Glynasked the Home Secretary how many children and adolescents are in remand homes and similar institutions; how many new establishments of this kind have been started during the past two years; and what further steps does he contemplate in view of the difficulty of magistrates at the present time in dealing with young offenders?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo figures are available to show the exact number of children and young persons detained at a particular date in remand homes and similar institutions, but the total number of places provided is about 2,000 and it may be assumed that most of these are filled. In the past two years, schemes for 36 new 2097W establishments, providing 1,100 places, have been started, and of these 24, providing 750 places, are now open. Further schemes are also under consideration. The existing pressure on remand homes should also be relieved as new approved schools which are now being provided come increasingly into use. I hope that the effect of these measures to ease the difficulties experienced by the courts will become increasingly apparent in the New Year.
§ Sir R. Glynasked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the instruction and tasks given to children in reformatories in such requisitioned buildings as have been brought into use provide sufficient physical training and also the carrying out of work that can be directly associated with the war effort?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe only approved schools housed in requisitioned buildings are four which had to be evacuated from their own premises. At these, as at all approved schools, physical training receives full attention. Work associated with the war effort is keenly encouraged and many schools are making notable contributions. Three of the schools housed in requisitioned buildings are for children of school age. At the fourth the boys so far admitted have been largely engaged in making improvements necessary to enable the premises to be brought into full use.