§ 77. Dr. S. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many boys and girls in approved schools who had not committed any offence absconded from these schools in the last 12-monthly period for which he has records; if they were then treated as having committed an offence; and how many have been sent to Borstal institutions.
§ Mr. EdeI have not the figures asked for in the first part of the Question, but in the year 1946 there were nine boys and 32 girls who, having been sent to approved schools for reasons other than the committal of offences, were charged before the courts with absconding and sent to Borstal. Three of the boys and five of the girls were charged at the same time with other offences. The great majority of absconders are received back into the schools from which they run away. Some are transferred to other schools. Use is only made of the power to have an absconder who is over the age of 16 committed to Borstal if, after other methods have been tried, it is clear that he or she cannot be managed in an approved school.
§ 78. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many approved schools are provided by voluntary organisations; and what proportion of the cost of these schools is borne by public funds.
§ Mr. EdeOf the 141 approved schools, 110 are under voluntary management. The cost of maintaining boys and girls sent to approved schools by the courts is borne in equal proportions by the Exchequer and the local authorities. Most of the voluntary schools have been provided from voluntary funds, but recently contributions to the provision of new schools have been made from public funds.
§ 79. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons are at present detained by order of court in approved schools provided by voluntary and public authorities, respectively; and whether he will introduce legislation to make impossible compulsory detention in an institution not under popular control.
§ Mr. EdeOn 31st May, 1947, 6,183 boys and 1,614 girls were detained in238W approved schools under voluntary management, and 2,284 boys and 136 girls in approved schools provided by local authorities. The voluntary schools are subject to the same inspection and control by the Home Office as the local authority schools; generally they have rendered and continue to render excellent service in this field, and experience does not suggest that there is any ground for limiting in the manner suggested the Home Secretary's power to approve suitable schools.