HC Deb 24 February 1969 vol 778 cc219-20W
Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the increase in the number of places available in approved schools in England and Wales during each of the years from 1958 to 1968, inclusive.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

The information is not available for the period before 1961. The number of places in approved schools in England and Wales at the end of each year for the period 1961–67, and the net increase or reduction during the same year, are as follows:

Year Places Net Increase Net Decrease
1961 8,805 127
1962 9,048 243
1963 9,380 332
1964 9,463 83
1965 9,603 140
1966 9,744 141
1967 9,533 211

The figures for 1968 are not yet available. There is at present about 75 per cent. occupancy.

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost of maintaining a child in an approved school in England and Wales.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

£23 9s. 6d. in the financial year 1967–68.

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the children presently in approved schools in England and Wales are permitted to attend normal local schools; and how many candidates from approved schools have been presented and passed the General Certification of Education O-level examination in each of the last three years.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

I regret that this information is not readily available.

Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of children leaving approved schools in England and Wales in each of the last five years has been committed to Borstal or other penal establishment in the three years following release.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

Information relating to the three year post-release period ending in 1968 is not yet available. For the periods ending in the preceding five years, the percentage of committals to penal establishments or recommittals to an approved school in England and Wales was as follows:—

Found gulity of an offence within 3 years of release and sent to
Year of release Number released Borstal Prison Detention centre Approved school
Percent. Percent. Percent. Percent.
1960 3,974 11.1 0.9 2.2 7.2*
1961 4,052 9.5 1.1 2.8 9.1*
1962 4,461 13.7 3.3 5.3 9.2*
1963 4,571 14.5 3.1 7.2 7.8*
1964 4,616 18.7 3.7 6.9 3.9
* The figures for the years 1960 to 1963 include boys and girls who were recalled to approved schools without any further order being made.