HC Deb 19 February 1941 vol 369 cc169-70W
Mr. Gledhill

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that six Halifax youths, sentenced at the Leeds quarter sessions on 6th and 7th January to three years' Borstal treatment, are still detained in Armley Prison, subject to solitary confinement; and whether, as this is contrary to the 1933 Act, he will see that they are released on recognisances until such times as there are vacancies at Borstal?

Mr. Peake:

These six persons were removed to a Borstal Institution last week. While at Armley Prison they were not in solitary confinement, and my hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that the detention in prison of offenders awaiting removal to a Borstal Institution is contrary to law; but I fully agree that such temporary detention should be as short as possible. There have recently been special difficulties arising partly from the fact that the Borstal accommodation available has been curtailed by enemy action against one of these institutions.