§ Mr. Carlisleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many junior attendance centres are in existence throughout the country at the present time;
(2) what is the age limit of those eligible to be ordered by the courts to attend a junior attendance centre;
(3) how many junior attendance centres there are in the county of Cheshire; and whether he is satisfied as to the adequacy of the number provided.
§ Mr. Alexander W. Lyon:There are 60 junior attendance centres in England and Wales available for boys over 10 and under 17 years of age. Before the reorganisation of local government areas two of these centres were in Cheshire; both now lie outside it, but courts in Macclesfield may order boys to attend the attendance centre in Stockport, and the attendance centre in Prescot is available to courts in Warrington. Because of the current restraint on public expenditure additional centres cannot be provided for the present, but we will certainly look again at the need for one in Cheshire as soon as the necessary resources become available.