§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the educational training and recreational facilities made available to those children detained in relation to section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.
§ Mrs. RumboldJuveniles sentenced to detention under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 may be held either in the prison system, normally in a young offender institution, or in the child care system as the Secretary of State directs. In young offender institutions those under school leaving age receive a minimum of 15 hours education a week. Educational programmes include academic subjects, life and social skills, leisure activities and work skills. Older juveniles are expected to participate in these educational programmes although they are not compulsory: alternative constructive activities are provided for those who decline education.
Arrangements are also made for participation in physical education for at least one hour each weekday on average, with the opportunity to attend additional physical education, sports and recreational activities in the evening and at the weekend.
Detainees held in the child care system also receive a full programme of education and in some exceptional circumstances approval might be given for attendance at a local school. Many child care establishments have good recreational facilities. In addition, approval may be given for suitable offenders to participate in educational and recreational activities within the community under appropriate supervision.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what stage of detention of a child detained under the terms of section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, he or she is eligible for home visits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldAny juvenile offender detained under this power in a young offender institution may be allowed a home visit as part of preparation for release when a date has been approved for him or her to be released on licence. Home visits may also be allowed before release on licence has been approved, under the home leave scheme, at a time depending upon the security classification of the establishment in which the juvenile offender is detained. For example, in open young offender institutions juvenile offenders serving determinate sentences may take their first home leave when they have reached the one third point of their sentences, and juvenile offenders detained for life are eligible for home leave when they have completed nine months in open conditions. On the other hand, in the most secure young offender institutions, juvenile offenders are 533W not allowed home leave until nine months before they are due to be released. In addition, home visits may be allowed on compassionate grounds at any stage of detention if this is warranted by the circumstances.
Juvenile offenders detained in community homes and youth treatment centres do not become eligible for home visits at any fixed point in their sentences. Such visits are normally allowed as part of each detainee's treatment programme and preparation for release and the time at which this should commence is considered on its merits in each case.