Young Offenders (Hansard, 24 January 1991)

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of local authorities have their own secure accommodation available for young people for whom it is judged necessary.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
On 31 December 1990, 26 local authorities, 24 per cent., in England provided secure accommodation. All local authorities have access to this national network of secure facilities.

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority secure places were made available to other local authorities willing to pay for them, in the last year for which figures were available.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
Of the 1,417 admissions to secure accommodation in England during the year ending 31 March 1989, 775 were placed by local authorities which did not provide such facilities; 11 were placed by local authorities outside England, and 60 were placed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

§ Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority secure homes for young people have been closed in the last five years; and what proportion this is of the total at the beginning of the period for which figures are available.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
In January 1986 there were 46 community homes providing secure units. Ten (22 per cent.) of these units have since closed permanently, primarily because the associated open part of the home has become surplus to the requirements of the local authority. A further four such secure units are currently temporarily closed while the local authority reviews their long-term future.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from chief constables with regard to the availability of secure accommodation for young persons.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
There have been no representations from chief constables specifically about the availability of secure accommodation. The Department has received comments from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on the draft regulations and guidance on secure accommodation that were issued for consultation under the Children Act 1989. ACPO's comments will be taken into account when the final version of these regulations and guidance are prepared.