HC Deb 25 July 1979 vol 971 cc241-2W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the educational provision for juveniles in detention centres and borstals meets the standards normally enforced by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools.

Mr. Britian

Yes.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what in formation he has about the reading age, or illiteracy, of juveniles sent to borstals and detention centres in a recent period.

Mr. Brittan

In the academic year 1977–78, literacy tests administered to the borstal and detention centre populations generally indicated that 8.4 per cent. and 6.8 per cent. of them respectively had reading ages of 8 years or less.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the research findings on which the Government base their view that harsher regimes in detention centres would have a greater deterrent effect than existing ones.

Mr. Brittan

There are no such findings. Part of the Government's intention in introducing a more vigorous regime will be to explore its deterrent effect.