§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juvenile offenders from Wales were sent to custody in England during the past 12 months or for the most recent period for which figures are available. [142705]
§ Mr. BoatengSince 1 April 2000 the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales has taken over the commissioning and purchasing of secure places for juveniles. It does not keep records of the number of young people from Wales who have been sent to custody in England. However, they have been able to provide the following information. Since 1 April 2000, 259 young people who offended in Wales were booked into secure accommodation. Of these, 17 bookings were in Wales (at Hillside).
The Board aim to expand capacity in Wales by 2003–04 through its commissioning strategy. It is currently examining possible sites and is also in discussion with the Prison Service.