§ 29. Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase the availability of local secure accommodation for juveniles charged with several offences. [30367]
§ Mr. MichaelA new duty on local authorities to provide bail support for juveniles awaiting trial or sentence, together with measures to speed up the youth justice process, should help to reduce the pressures on existing secure accommodation. The Government's review of all forms of juvenile secure accommodation, which will be completed shortly, will inform decisions about the best use of that accommodation and whether there should be any further expansion in local authority secure accommodation, which is expected to reach 460 places by the end of 1998.