§ Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of girls attending approved schools, remand homes and attendance centres in England and Wales in 1960 and 1970, respectively; what percentage absconded in each of those years; and what was the percentage that absconded in 1970 on more than one occasion.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation about approved schools and remand homes is as follows:
Approved Schools 1960 1970 Number of girls attending 1,985 1,858 Percentage who absconded 67.2 66.7 Remand Homes 1960 1970 Number of girls admitted 3,309 4,138 Absconders as a percentage of admissions 3.8 11.2 Notes:
(i) The abscondings include all absences without leave, however short, and failures to return on time from authorised absences.
(ii) The records do not show how many girls absconded more than once.
(iii) There are no attendance centres for girls.
§ Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of young people absconding from approved schools, remand homes and attendance centres in England and Wales during 1970 were charged with this offence before a magistrates' court under Section 82 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933.
§ Mr. AlisonOf the 6,221 boys and girls who absconded from approved schools in 1970 (counting all absences without leave, however short, and including failures to return on time from authorised leave), three were brought before court under Section 82 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933. This Section could be invoked only in respect of children and young persons ordered to be sent to approved schools.