HC Deb 22 June 1992 vol 210 cc10-1W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by local authority the number of cases where juveniles were remanded by an application for an unruly certificate which local authorities were responsible for making in the periods of 1 July to 30 December 1990 and 1 January to 30 March 1992.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The information requested is not recorded centrally. The only information available relates to Juveniles initially received on remand into prison service establishments. These statistics are published annually in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 2.7 of the Volume for 1990, Cm 1800), a copy of which is in the Library.

An unruliness certificate is required for such juveniles received as untried and for some of those received as convicted unsentenced; it is not required for those committed in custody to the Crown court for sentence under section 37 of the Magistrates Courts Act. Information by area is not available.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles were remanded in prison department custody between 1 July and 30 December 1990 and 1 January to 30 March 1992.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Between 1 July and 31 December 1990, 496 juveniles were initially received into prison service establishments in England and Wales as untried prisoners and a further 38 juveniles were initially received as convicted unsentenced. Comparable provisional figures for the period 1 July to 31 December 1991 are 469 initially received as untried and 21 initially received as convicted unsentenced. Data for 1 January to 30 March 1992 are not yet available.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentenced 15-year-olds were in prison service custody on the most recent convenient date; in which establishments they were held; and which of these establishments also accommodate(a) young adults and (b) adults.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The readily available information is given in the table.

Sentenced 15-year-olds held in prison service establishments on 31 December 1991
Establishment Number held
Male remand centres Glen Parva1 1
Male juvenile young offender institutions2
Feltham3 12
Kirklevington 22
Onley3 20
Werrington3 14
Female closed young offender institutions
New Hall4 1
Establishment Number held
Total 70
1 Also accommodates young adults.
2Juvenile young offender institutions also hold young offenders who have reached their seventeenth birthday and are awaiting transfer to another young offender institution.
3There are also other units at these sites which hold young adults.
4Also accommodates young adults. There is also an adult prison on the same site.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average daily population of remanded 15 and 16-year-old juveniles in the periods between 1 July and 30 December 1990 and 1 January and 30 March 1992.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The average daily population of juveniles is not readily available but between 31 July and 31 December 1990 the average end of month population of 15 and 16-year-old remand prisoners was 60 untried and 15 convicted unsentenced. Data for 1 January to 30 March 1992 are not yet available. Figures for 30 September and 31 December and for the same dates in 1991 are shown in the table.

Population of unsentenced 15 and 16-year-olds in prison service establishments in England and Wales by type of prisoner.
Untried Convicted unsentenced
1990
30 September 59 17
31 December 44 12
1991
30 September 50 18
31 December 47 12

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made on the effect of the current levels of juveniles remanded to prison department custody on the efficacy of the interim proposals announced for introduction from 1 October; and what consideration he has given to abolishing remands to prison department custody or continuing with the current arrangements.

Mr. Jack

The substantial decline in the number of 15 and 16-year-olds remanded to prison service establishments in recent years indicates that courts are committed to avoiding prison remands wherever possible. Courts' confidence in this approach will be strengthened by their new powers under the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to attach conditions and requirements when remanding juveniles to local authority accommodation. The Governmnent remains fully committed to abolishing prison remands for 15 and 16-year-olds as soon as the availability of alternative accommodation makes that possible. We will monitor closely the extent to which prison remands continue to be used under the new procedures.