§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the average length of time spent in detention by minors in Northern Ireland who have been sentenced by the courts to be placed in a detention centre for five years, or at the pleasure of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland;
(2) what is the average length of time spent in detention by minors in Northern Ireland who have been sentenced by the courts to be placed in a detention centre for two years, or at the pleasure of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe average period served prior to release on licence by young persons ordered to be detained under the provisions of Section 73(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act424W (Northern Ireland) 1968 for periods of two years and five years is approximately 1 year three months and two years eight months respectively not counting periods spent on remand or awaiting trial. No person ordered to be detained during the pleasure of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under Section 73(1) of the said Act of 1968 has to date been released on licence.