Mr. Mark Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the varying status of the several young persons under 16 years of age held in Low Newton Remand Centre on Thursday, 9th March.
§ Mr. CarlisleThere were 17 young persons under 16 years of age at Low Newton Remand Centre on 9th March. Of these, two were remanded for further 133W appearance at magistrates' courts; three were convicted and remanded for reports under Section 14(3) of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1952; one was committed to the Crown Court for trial, and 11 were committed to the Crown Court under Section 28 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1952, with a view to a sentence of borstal training.
Mr. Mark Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1969, are being met by the continuing of such remand centres as Low Newton for young offenders: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe Children and Young Persons Act, 1969, permits a court to remand to a remand centre or prison a young person aged 14 but under 17 if the court certifies that he is too unruly to be safely remanded to the care of the local authority. The Act gives my right hon. Friend power to raise the minimum age above 14. The exercise of this power depends on the development, through the children's regional planning committees of local authorities, of suitable accommodation within the local authority system. My right hon. Friend is in touch with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services about this.