§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those community homes with secure units for: (a) girls aged between 14 and 16 years (b) boys aged between 14 and 16 years and indicate in each case the total number of places and the current vacancies.
§ Mr. MoyleThere are no secure units in community homes in England provided solely for boys and girls of 14 to 16 years of age. The homes with secure 125W units, other than separation rooms, showing the number of places available and
Regional Planning Area Name of Home Total number of places in secure unit Number usable by girls Number usable by boys Vacancies as at 5th November 1976 Area 1 Aycliffe … … … 14 4 14 — Benton Grange* … … … 4 4 — 4 Area 2 Rosehead … … … 2 2 2 2 Spring Cottage … … … 3 3 3 3 Springhead Park … … … 3 3 — — Area 3 Burford … … … 4 4 — 4 Red Bank … … … 30 — 30 5 Blackbrook House … … … 5 5 — — Meadowcroft … … … 7 7 — 7 Area 4 Tennal … … … 7 — 7 — Rowley Hall … … … 3 3 — 1 KnowleHill … … … 4 4 — 4 Area 5 Saxon House … … … 3 — 3 — Area 6 Boyles Court … … … 6 — 6 4 Area 7 Thornbury House† … … … 5 — 5 5 Crouchfield … … … 12 — 12 5 Area 8 Cumberlow Lodge … … … 6 6 — — Redhill … … … 28 — 28 1 Stamford House … … … 10 — 10 — Duncroft … … … 4 4 — 4 Area 11 Farringdon House … … … 6 6 — 4 Sedbury Park … … … 6 — 6 — Kingswood … … … 20 — 20 1 The Crescent … … … 6 6 — 2 * Reopening 8th November. † Undergoing alterations.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those community homes catering: (a) for boys aged between 14 and 16 years and (b) for girls aged between 14 and 16 years and indicate in each case the total number of places and the current vacancies.
§ Mr. MoyleI am afraid it is not possible without disproportionate effort and staff costs to provide the information sought about all community homes. There are some 2,300 community homes in England providing about 40,000 places for children of all ages. The current number of vacancies in each home would be known only by the local authority or voluntary body responsible for the home.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he anticipates there being sufficient places in community homes to accommodate those girls aged between 14 and 16 years who are now remanded to prison service establishments.
§ Mr. MoyleIt is too soon to say. There are 99 secure places in observation and assessment centres currently under construction. These will, of
126Wthe vacancies as at 5th November 1976 are listed in the following table.
course, also be needed for children other than those of 14 to 16 on remand. Detailed discussions with the local authority associations on a timetable for phasing out remands of young persons to Prison Department establishments will start some time in the new year.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with local authorities and other organisations about the provision of extra secure places in community homes and the phasing out of the unruly certificate.
§ Mr. MoyleSince the Government announced their intention to make direct grants to local authorities for providing secure accommodation in community homes, DHSS Ministers have discussed the matter with the chairmen of children's regional planning committees, with the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and with other groups. In addition, there has been consultation with the local authority associations and others on ending remand to prison department establishments for 14-year-old girls and on unruly certificates.
My hon. Friend may also wish to know that my right hon. Friend and I, together 127W with other ministerial colleagues, have arranged to meet representatives of the local authority associations on 29th November to discuss the recent White Paper on the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.