§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of children in list D schools are released within one, two and three months, respectively, of reaching the age of 16 years; to what extent financial pressures on local government social work departments are leading to early release on the basis of the school leaving age; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FairgrieveInformation about the age of children on release from list D schools is not held centrally. A child subject to a residential supervision requirement may, if a children's hearing so decides, have the requirement continued until he is 18 years old. I am not aware of any cases of early release because of financial pressures on local authorities.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of absconders from list D schools in 1978–79; how many of the absconders escaped more than once in each of these years; how many secure places were available in each year and what was their occupancy rate; how many secure places are needed within the system; and is he satisfied with the present position.
§ Mr. FairgrieveInformation on the incidence of absconding from list D schools is not held centrally.
The secure places available in list D schools and the percentage occupancy rates in 1978–79 were:
January 1978 53) 77 November 1978 43) 1979 43 89 Six secure places for girls were added in June 1980, and it is hoped that a further 18 places which are being provided for boys will be available for use by the end of the year. It does not seem necessary to provide further places at present, but the provision will be kept under review.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the agencies which have power to refer a 15W child in a list D school to a hearing for review of the residential requirement or of the kind of school in which the placement was made.
§ Mr. FairgrieveSection 48 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 provides for the review of a supervision requirement of a children's hearing on the recommendation of a local authority, or in certain circumstances by a child or his parent.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have been made to him regarding the advantages or disadvantages to child care of local authorities being relieved of their 17½ per cent. contribution to list D schools; what impact the financial contribution may have on numbers of boys permitted to attend list D schools as day pupils; if he will issue guidelines to regional councils or whether costs of day pupils should be met from social work or education department budgets; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FairgrieveNo representations have been made to my right hon. Friend on this subject. Charges for day pupils are a matter for the managers of individual list D schools, who are expected to recover costs relating to such pupils. So far as I am aware, the level of charges has not affected the placement of children as day pupils in list D schools, and I see no need to issue guidelines on this matter.