HC Deb 21 December 1984 vol 70 cc371-2W
Mr. Alex Carlile

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons, male and female, aged (a) 15 to 16 years and (b) 17 to 21 years have been held on remand in adult establishments so far during 1984.

Mr. Mellor

[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1984, c. 633]: The readily available information relates to initial receptions of persons aged under 21 on remand into adult prisons and is given in the following table. Information for 1984 is not yet available. It is normal for young male prisoners to be kept apart from adult prisoners whereas in establishments for females women and girls may mix.

Untried and convicted unsentenced persons aged 15 and under 21 received initially into an adult Prison Department establishment in England and Wales—1983
Estimated number (1)
15–16 17–20
Male Female Male Female
Adult prisons with remand units/wings for prisoners aged under 21 (2) 95 370
Remand centres taking remand prisoners of all ages (3) 590 15 7,840 480
Other adult prisons 40 10 4,620 480

(1) The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

(2) Cardiff, Dorchester, Exeter, Liverpool, Manchester, Norwich, Swansea, and Winchester.

(3) Ashford, Low Newton, Manchester, Pucklechurch, and Risley.