§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local authority secure unit beds there were in each of the past 10 years; how many beds are projected to be provided in the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [175467]
§ Margaret HodgeSecure children's homes provide accommodation for young people placed for the protection of themselves or others, and for those placed under criminal justice legislation by the Youth Justice Board. The following table provides information on the number of approved places in secure children's homes over the past 10 years.
Officials have been working closely, both with the Youth Justice Board and the Association of Directors of Social Services, to consider the implications for secure children's homes of the Youth Justice Board's decision to use fewer beds in local authority secure units.
We understand that a few secure children's homes will now close, and that a few others may close, on the basis that they will no longer be viable. For this reason, we are at this time unable to project the exact number of beds in secure children's homes over the next five years.
However, officials are looking very closely at the demand, including any unmet need, for welfare placements in order to ensure that there are sufficient beds across the country for children who need to be placed in a secure children's home for welfare reasons.
Our aim is to achieve the best quality service for vulnerable children who, for whatever reason, need a placement in secure accommodation.
Places approved/available to secure accommodation at 31 March Places approved/available England 1994 290 1995 265 1996 275 1997 330 1998 415 1999 435 2000 435 2001 430 2002 425 2003 425 Source: SA1 return