§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made in implementing those parts of sections 97 and 98 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 giving magistrates the power to remand juveniles to local authority secure accommodation; and what assessment he has made of the financial implications of implementation for local authorities. [105851]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe secure remand provisions in sections 97 and 98 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 were implemented on 1 June 1999. Magistrates can remand direct to local authority secure accommodation 12 to 16-year-old girls; 12 to 14-year-old boys; and 15 and 16-year-old boys who are assessed as vulnerable and for whom a place is identified in advance.
The Home Office refunds the estimated net costs to local authorities. These were agreed with the Local Government Association last year as between £1,745 and £2,148 per placement per week depending on area.