HC Deb 15 December 1978 vol 960 cc425-6W
Mr. Stephen Ross

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children, of what age and sex, who were detained under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, have subsequently been made subject to detention under the Mental Health Act 1959;

(2) how many persons, of what age and sex, who have been detained under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 are currently subject to detention under the Mental Health Act 1959; and where they are at present detained.

Dr. Summerskill:

The available information is as follows. Up to 31st October 1978, three females detained since 1st January 1974 under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 in England and Wales are known to have been made subject to detention under part V of the Mental Health Act 1959. On admission to hospital, two were aged 15 and one was aged 17. All three were still detained on 31st October 1978; one then aged 18 was in Moss Side and one then and 17 and one then aged 18 were in Broadmoor Hospital. Information on those detained before 1974 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Stephen Ross

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children, of what age and sex, are currently detained under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933;and where they are at present detained.

Dr. Summerskill:

The information available is given in the following table.

PERSONS AGED UNDER 17 DETAINED IN ENGLAND AND WALES UNDER SECTION 53 OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1933 ON 31ST OCTOBER 1978, BY AGE AND LOCATION
Location Aged under 14 Aged 14 to 16
Males
In prison department establishments 36
In community homes 3 20
Females
In prison department establishments 2
In community homes 3

Mr. Stephen Ross

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children, of what age and sex, have been detained under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 during each of the past 10 years.

Dr. Summerskill:

In addition to the receptions into prison department establishments in England and Wales published in Table 3.5 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1977 "—Cmnd. 7286–there were the following receptions into community homes.

PERSONS AGED UNDER 17 RECEIVED INTO COMMUNITY HOMES HAVING BEEN DETAINED UNDER SECTION 53 OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1933, AND NOT SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSFERRED TO A PRISON DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHMENT*
Year Males Females
1970 1
1971 1
1972
1973 1
1974 1
1975
1976 1 2
1977 1 1
*Transfers from a prison department establishment to a community home are not included.