§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans there are to change the number of beds in local authority secure children's homes; and if he will make a statement; [172850]
(2) if he will list the secure children's homes in England; [172851]
(3) if he will make a statement on the future of secure children's homes in England. [172852]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 13 May 2004]: Officials have been working closely, both with the Youth Justice Board and the Association of Directors of Social Services, to consider the implications for local authority secure children's homes of the results of the Youth Justice Board's re-tendering exercise to determine the extent to which these homes will be used by the Youth Justice Board over the next two to five years for the placement of children through the youth justice system.
We understand that a few secure children's homes will now close on the basis that they wi11 no longer be viable.
Officials are looking very closely at the demand, including any unmet need, for welfare placements in order to ensure that there are sufficient beds across the country for children who need to be placed in secure accommodation for welfare reasons.
Our aim is to achieve the best quality service for vulnerable children who, for whatever reason, need to be placed in secure accommodation.
The secure children's homes in England are as follows:
- Stamford House
- Orchard Lodge
- Beechfield
- Lansdowne
- Leverton
- Thornbury
- Atkinson
- Vinney Green
- Swanwick Lodge
- Clare Lodge
- St. Johns
- Earlswood
- Lincolnshire
- Sutton Place
- Aldine House
930W - Brunei
- Watling House
- Clayfields
- Aycliffe
- Kyloe House
- Eastmoor
- Barton Moss
- Dyson Hall
- Redbank
- Redsands
- Dales House
- St. Catherines