§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of inmates of borstals and detention centres who are problem drinkers; and what provision is made for them.
§ Mr. MellorBecause of the difficulty of identifying inmates who may be problem drinkers, no central records are kept. Selective studies of various young offender groups have been made but no general systematic survey has been undertaken of young offender establishments and accordingly no reliable estimate is available.
In borstals and detention centres, as in the prison system as a whole, medical officers supervise treatment for the physical consequences of drink abuse. Most young offender establishments also have psychiatrically-qualified medical officers or visiting psychiatrists prepared to offer psychotherapy if this is indicated and the trainee is willing to accept it. A few establishments have special courses for problem drinkers, and some have an Alcoholics Anonymous group or a group offering counselling about drink related problems. All young offender establishments are encouraged to run social skills courses which include coverage of drink, drug and inhalant abuse.