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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the timetable of the Youth Justice Board for ending the remand of 15 and 16 year olds to adult prisons. [58355] Mr. Boateng: The Government's plans for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place for remanded juveniles are being taken forward in the context of the wider programme of work arising from our review of all forms of secure accommodation for young offenders and young people held on remand. Our aim is to implement provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 as soon as possible, and by June 1998 at the latest, to allow the courts to remand directly to local authority secure accommodation 12-14 year olds. 15 and 16 year old girls and, where a place has been identified in advance, vulnerable 15 and 16 year old boys. We will keep under review the existing arrangements for remanding other 15 and 16 year old boys to Prison Service accommodation. In the meantime, work is being taken forward, with the Youth Justice Board, to improve the standard of care and quality of regimes for remanded and sentenced juveniles held in Prison Service accommodation to ensure that these are appropriate to the needs of young people. We are also making available funds, which will be administered by the Youth Justice Board, to develop local bail support provision to help ensure that custodial remands are used appropriately for the most serious and persistent cases.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

318 c653W; 58355

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Prisoners on remand Young offenders Secure accommodation Prison accommodation Youth Justice Board