§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take immediate steps to deprive the courts of the power to remand 15 and 16-year-old boys in prison.
§ Mr. John PattenOn 4 February, we published a consultation paper setting out our proposals for reforming the arrangements for the remand of alleged juvenile offenders. We propose to end the remand to prison custody of 15 and 16-year-old boys, as soon as enough places in local authority secure accommodation are available.