HC Deb 16 May 2003 vol 405 c497W
Claire Ward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the children in Stoke Heath prison are subject to(a) section 20 and (b) a full care order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989; [113178]

(2) how many of the children in Parc prison are subject to (a) section 20 and (b) a full care order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989; [113179]

(3) how many of the children in (a) Brockhill, (b) Brinsford, (c) Wetherby, (d) Lancaster Farms, (e) New Hall and (f) Onley prisons are subject to (i) section 20 and (ii) a full care order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989; [113195]

(4) how many of the children in (a) Ashfield, (b) Styal, (c) Thorn Cross, (d) Werrington, (e) Huntercombe, (f) Holloway, (g) Hollesley Bay and Warren Hill, (h) Hindley, (i) Feltham, (j) Eastwood Park, (k) Castington and (l) Bullwood Hall prisons are subject to (i) section 20 and (ii) a full care order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989. [113191]

Paul Goggins

The Prison Service does not hold information on the numbers of children and young people in each of its establishments who are subject to section 31 of the Children Act 1989 or who are accommodated by a local authority under section 20 of the Act before being received into custody. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department of Health collects aggregate figures annually for those subject to section 31 care orders and as of 31 March 2002 (the latest date for which figures are currently available) the Prison Service was accommodating 130 such children and young people.