HL Deb 17 April 1996 vol 571 cc71-2WA
Lord Harris of Greenwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total number of secure places for juveniles in (a) youth treatment centres and (b) local authority secure units in each year from 1990 to 1995 respectively; what is the current number of such places; and how many such places have been opened and closed respectively since 1991.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)

Information is collected centrally on the numbers of places approved. Figures on the total number of approved places in England are in the table. Monthly information on approved places at each secure unit is published in Table 1 ofChildren accommodated in secure units, year ending 31 March 1995, England A/F 95/21 (and Table H of previous publications), a copy of which is available in the Library.

Places approved by the Secretary of State in local authority secure units at 1 April 1990–1996
Year Total
1990 288
1991 283
1992 292
1993 295
1994 289
1995 266
1996 274

(excluding the number of places provided by YTC).

In addition, from 1990 to 1995 there were 60 secure places in the Youth Treatment Service. The St. Charles Centre closed in September 1995. From that date and currently there are 30 secure places at the Glenthorne Centre. The Youth Treatment Centre plan to increase this to 40 during the course of 1996.