§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to increase the accommodation available for juveniles kept on remand, in order to relieve the need to use adult prisons for this purpose.
§ Dr. OwenPlanning the community home system for children in the care of local authorities is the responsibility of the regional planning committees set up by those authorities under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969. These regional plans all provide for the expansion of homes for those, including juveniles on remand, who require observation and assessment. The plans are being carried out as resources permit. I shall shortly be inviting the chairmen of committees to discuss the experience gained during the first year of the system, which came into operation on 1st April, 1973.