§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the number of children in prison establishments, she will act, as a matter of urgency, to provide community homes.
§ Dr. OwenI agree that we must as a matter of urgency provide places in community homes for children who, because suitable accommodation is not available in the community home system, now have to be held in prison establishments. Local authorities are responsible for providing community homes but I do my best to help them by giving high priority, when considering local authorities' building proposals, to schemes providing places in community homes, particularly those providing secure accommodation. Progress is being made but restrictions on capital expenditure mean that this cannot be as rapid as either the Government or local authorities would wish.