§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what expenditure has been authorised for (a) secure observation and assessment centres, (b) secure long-term treatment with education on premises centres, and (c) youth training centres, for children in care ; and what is his estimate of the need for such facilities.
§ Mr. Moyle:Grants for the capital cost of secure accommodation in community homes authorised under Section 64A of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 are as follows:
- (a) Observation and Assessment Centres:£1,624,686 ;
- (b) Community Homes with education on the premises:£2.079,820.
Authorised capital expenditure on youth treatment centres provided by my Department amounts to £2,734,000.
Assessment of the need for secure facilities in community homes is the responsibility of local authorities in conjunction with children's regional planning committees.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria have been laid down for defining the type of child considered suitable for secure units.
§ Mr. Moyle:The Community Homes Regulations 1972 (S.I., 1972, No. 319) provide that a child placed in a community home with secure accommodation or a child in the care of a local authority or voluntary organisation may be admitted to secure accommodation in his own interest or to protect other people. Admission policies for secure units, including criteria defining suitability for admission, are matters for the local authorities concerned, normally in conjunction with children's regional planning committees. Circulars issued by my Department have indicated that admissions may occur in a wide range of circumstances, for example, exceptionally disturbed behaviour, persistent absconding and remands in care where the child would otherwise be sent to a prison or remand centre.
Guidance on the types of children considered suitable for youth treatment centres provided by my Department is set out in the Explanatory Guide 207W " Youth Treatment Centres "published in 1971, a copy of which is available in the Library.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many juveniles taken into care by local authorities have been boarded out in hotels in the last year for which figures are available ; and how many are currently so boarded out.
§ Mr. Moyle:Local authority annual statistical returns do not contain this information, and I regret therefore that it is not available centrally.