§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the custodial arrangements for children under the age of 12 years who are convicted of murder or other criminal offences.
§ Mr. MacleanChildren under the age of 12 who have been convicted of murder are subject to the mandatory sentence of detention at Her Majesty's pleasure under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Children of this age convicted of manslaughter may also be detained under section 53. My right hon. and learned Friend, who has responsibility for the placement of all children detained under section 53, makes the decision about where such children should be placed. In practice, children of this age are invariably held in secure establishments within the child care system.