§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authority secure units have been suspended from use by the Youth Justice Board; for what reasons use of those secure units has been suspended; which secure units which had been suspended from use in the past are being used by the Youth Justice Board; and if he will make a statement. [155567]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe operation of these secure units is a matter for the local authorities concerned and the Department of Health which licenses them. The Youth Justice Board purchases places in most of them. It has ceased to do so, or decided not to start purchasing places, where the unit cannot meet the Board's contracting standards or concerns have been raised by the Board's monitors or the Social Services Inspectorate about the quality of care provided. The units affected during the past year are the Gladstone Unit in Liverpool, Stamford House in London and Stoke House in Coventry. Some places are now being purchased in each of them.