§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the increase in the number of places available in approved schools in England and Wales during each of the years from 1958 to 1968, inclusive.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe information is not available for the period before 1961. The number of places in approved schools in England and Wales at the end of each year for the period 1961–67, and the net increase or reduction during the same year, are as follows:
Year Places Net Increase Net Decrease 1961 8,805 127 — 1962 9,048 243 — 1963 9,380 332 — 1964 9,463 83 — 1965 9,603 140 — 1966 9,744 141 — 1967 9,533 — 211 The figures for 1968 are not yet available. There is at present about 75 per cent. occupancy.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost of maintaining a child in an approved school in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Elystan Morgan£23 9s. 6d. in the financial year 1967–68.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the children presently in approved schools in England and Wales are permitted to attend normal local schools; and how many candidates from approved schools have been presented and passed the General Certification of Education O-level examination in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganI regret that this information is not readily available.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of children leaving approved schools in England and Wales in each of the last five years has been committed 220W to Borstal or other penal establishment in the three years following release.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganInformation relating to the three year post-release period ending in 1968 is not yet available. For the periods ending in the preceding five years, the percentage of committals to penal establishments or recommittals to an approved school in England and Wales was as follows:—
Found gulity of an offence within 3 years of release and sent to Year of release Number released Borstal Prison Detention centre Approved school Percent. Percent. Percent. Percent. 1960 3,974 11.1 0.9 2.2 7.2* 1961 4,052 9.5 1.1 2.8 9.1* 1962 4,461 13.7 3.3 5.3 9.2* 1963 4,571 14.5 3.1 7.2 7.8* 1964 4,616 18.7 3.7 6.9 3.9 * The figures for the years 1960 to 1963 include boys and girls who were recalled to approved schools without any further order being made.