HC Deb 20 June 1977 vol 933 c390W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of (a) girls aged 14 to 16 years and (b) boys aged 14 to 16 years imprisoned in remand centres and local prisons in 1976;

(2) what is the total number of (a) girls aged 14 to 16 years and (b) boys aged 14 to 16 years imprisoned in remand centres and local prisons in 1977.

Mr. John

The following table shows the provisional number of receptions of persons aged 14 to 16 into local prisons and remand centres in 1976 and 1977:

1976 1977 (to 30th April)
Males 4,702 1,612
Females 340 98
Totals 5,042 1,710

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) girls aged 14 to 16 years and (b) boys aged 14 to 16 years were in adult remand centres and local prisons at the latest available date; and how these totals compare with figures for a similar date in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

Mr. John

The information requested is given in the following table. I regret that corresponding information is not readily available for 1974 or 1975.

Persons aged 14–16 years in local prisons and remand centres on 31st March
1976 1977
Males
Local prisons 26 19
Remand centres 310 350
Females
Local prisons 10 10
(aged 15–16)
Remand centres 310 350

Except at Risley, where adult males are held in a separate unit, remand centres take male offenders only under the age of 21 years.