§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current weekly cost of keeping a youngster in a secure unit; [27937]
(2) what was the age of the youngest (a) male and (b) female being kept in a secure unit for young offenders in England and Wales, on 10 February; [27939]
212W(3) how many (a) males and (b) females were held in secure units for young offenders in England and Wales, as of 1 February. [27938]
§ Ms QuinLocal authority secure units accommodate a number of categories of young people. Those for whom my right hon. Friend is responsible are convicted under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. On 30 January 1998, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 182 of these: 170 male and 12 female. The youngest male detainee on that date was aged 11 years and 8 months; the youngest female, 13 years and 9 months. Costs vary from unit to unit, but the average weekly placement rate at 1997–98 prices was £2,628.