§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been committed to prison in the last two years for which figures are available because the Secretary of State for the Home Department failed to 198W notify the court of the availability of a remand centre place under Section 23(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.
§ Dr. Summerskill:The great majority of courts in England and Wales commit to remand centres male young persons aged 14–16 in respect of whom unruly certificates have been issued under Section 23(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969. But some courts commit to Bedford, Canterbury, Lincoln, Norwich, Oxford and Shrewsbury prisons. Boys received in these establishments may subsequently be transferred to remand centres. Courts in the greater part of England and Wales commit to remand centres girls in this age group who are the subject of an unruly certificate, but those in the South-East and Midlands commit to Holloway prison.
The numbers of young persons aged 14–16 initially committed to these prisons before trial or sentence in 1973 and 1974 are not immediately available, but I shall let my hon. Friend have this information as soon as possible.