§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that courts are not limited in imposing senior detention orders due to lack of availability of places at detention centres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JohnThe demand for places fluctuates from time to time and from area to area but I have no reason to believe that the number of places in senior detention centres is generally inadequate to meet the current sentencing practices of the courts. Demand rarely exceeds the certified normal accommodation; on 2 February 1979, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 248 vacant places.