HC Deb 05 November 1998 vol 318 cc652-3W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many 15 and 16 year old youths were held on remand in adult prisons at the most recent date for which information is available; [58354]

(2) which adult prisons were used for the remand of 15 and 16 year old youths on (a) 1 May 1997 and (b) the latest date for which such information is available. [58353]

Mr. George Howarth

The available information relates to the remand prison population of 15 and 16 year olds on the last day of the month and is given in the table. Young persons held in adult prisons are normally accommodated separately from adults.

Population of 15 and 16 year olds on remand in adult prisons on 30 April 1997 and 30 September 1998, by establishment
Establishment 30 April 1997 30 September 19981
Altcourse — 4
Cardiff 9 6
Doncaster 46 27
Exeter 3 2
Gloucester 7 4
Hull 10 7
Low Newton 16 11
Manchester — 1
Norwich — 1
Parc — 1
Swansea 5 3
Woodhill — 1
Total 96 68
1Provisional figures

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable of the Youth Justice Board for ending the remand of 15 and 16 year olds to adult prisons. [58355]

Mr. Boateng

The Government's plans for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place for remanded juveniles are being taken forward in the context of the wider programme of work arising from our review of all forms of secure accommodation for young offenders and young people held on remand. Our aim is to implement provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 as soon as possible, and by June 1998 at the latest, to allow the courts to remand directly to local authority secure accommodation 12–14 year olds, 15 and 16 year old girls and, where a place has been identified in advance, vulnerable 15 and 16 year old boys. We will keep under review the existing arrangements for remanding other 15 and 16 year old boys to Prison Service accommodation.

In the meantime, work is being taken forward, with the Youth Justice Board, to improve the standard of care and quality of regimes for remanded and sentenced juveniles held in Prison Service accommodation to ensure that these are appropriate to the needs of young people. We are also making available funds, which will be administered by the Youth Justice Board, to develop local bail support provision to help ensure that custodial remands are used appropriately for the most serious and persistent cases.