§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with the provision of secure accommodation for juveniles in Knowsley Metropolitan Borough; and if she will make special help available to the council so that such provision can be made.
§ Dr. OwenIt is for the local authorities in the North-West Area—which includes the Metropolitan District of Knowsley—to plan, through the regional planning machinery, to meet the needs of the area for secure accommodation for juveniles. The current regional plan does not call for Knowsley to provide any such accommodation. Instead, it has access to secure accommodation at Newton-le-Willows and Widnes—when it comes into use—for boys, and at Liverpool, Preston and Manchester for girls. The regional plan calls for a further 76–84 places to be established and projects providing 38 of these have been submitted by authorities in the area for inclusion in the 1976–77 capital building programme.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement about the shortage of secure accommodation for young offenders in Cornwall and Devon; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the necessary accommodation is made available.
§ Dr. OwenPrimary responsibility for providing accommodation for children in care rests on local authorities. Specialised facilities such as secure accommodation would be provided by them in accordance with the plans of the childrens regional planning committee of the area of which they form part.
150WThere are two secure places for boys and girls in Cornwall and six for girls in Devon. These are available to juveniles, including offenders, from both counties as also are 32 places elsewhere in the South-West area. The regional plan calls for a further 14 secure places, all to be provided by Devon. A proposal from Devon County Council to provide 12 secure places at a community home in Exeter is now being considered for inclusion in the 1976–77 capital building programme.