HC Deb 10 July 2000 vol 353 cc433-4W
Dr. Vis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each institution which has received children under a detention and training order since the introduction of such orders. [129701]

Mr. Boateng

The Detention and Training Order may be served in a number of different types of institution: young offender institutions; secure training centres; and places in local authority secure units. Generally, in the case of boys, those who are aged 15 to 17 will serve their sentence in a young offender institution, and those aged 12 to 14 in secure training centres or local authority secure units, except where individual assessment recommends otherwise. This reflects the Youth Justice Board's placement strategy, a copy of which is in the Library.

Placements of boys aged 15 to 17 to a young offender institution should be made to those comprising the new distinct estate for boys: Ashfield; Brinsford; Castington; Feltham; Hollesley Bay; Huntercombe; Lancaster Farms; Onley; Portland; Stoke Heath; Thorn Cross; Werrington; and Wetherby. The new estate comprises juvenile-only establishments and juvenile units in young offender institutions.

The Government have decided that young women aged 15 to 16 should be placed in non-Prison Service accommodation, as should those aged 17 years, as spaces become available. In the interim, 17-year-olds on remand will continue to share facilities with adults due to their small numbers, and those who are sentenced with other young women under 21 in enhanced young offender units in womens' prisons at: Brockhill; Bullwood Hall; Drake Hall; Eastwood Park; Holloway; Low Newton; New Hall and Styal.