§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of savings to the prison service that will result from the proposed provision of secure units for young people in England and Wales.
§ Mrs. RumboldWe estimate that the realisable savings to the prison service of keeping juveniles on remand in secure units would be in the region of £100,000 per year.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to alter policy with regard to young offenders being given custodial sentences as a result of the psychological research in this area.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 2 December 1991]: In her reply on 26 November at columns 445–46 to a Question from the hon. Member about the psychological effect of custody on young offenders, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mrs. Rumbold), mentioned three research studies. The detention centre order, which was the subject of the first study, was abolished by the Criminal Justice Act 1988. We have no plans to change courts' custodial sentencing powers in the light of the other two reports, but are considering what lessons they may hold for our regimes and working practices.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were transferred from Hewell Grange to the young offenders institution at Holesley bay colony during September 1991.
§ Mrs. RumboldTwenty.