§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the age, sex and offence with which charged of the two children aged under 14 years in prison establishments during the month ended 11th May 1975;
(2) for how long each of the two children aged under 14 years who were in prison establishments on 11th May have now been in custody.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe two children who were held in a remand centre in the year ended 11th May 1975 were both male, both aged 13 and both had been convicted of burglary and assault with intent to rob and sentenced. By 4th June, the latest date for which information is readily available, they had spent 50 days in community homes following the 47 days they spent in the remand centre.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under 14 years of age have been in prison establishments for each of the last four years for which figures are available.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn 1975 two children under 14 were received after sentence under Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. In addition one child in 1973 and two children in 1972 who had been committed to custody on 47W remand were accommodated for one night each in a remand centre as an exceptional step taken in preference to subjecting them to further evening journeys in search of an available place in a community home.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards putting children under the age of 14 years into prison establishments.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe law provides for a child under the age of 14 years to be detained in a prison establishment only after being convicted of a serious offence and sentenced under Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Only three children have been so sentenced since 1970. Arrangements are made to transfer such children to a community home as soon as a suitable place can be found, but a preliminary assessment in a remand centre may be necessary.