Written question asked by Charles Hendry (Conservative) on Monday, 15 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 March 2004. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Monday, 29 March 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the numeracy and literacy levels of juvenile offenders detained in local authority secure units (a) at the start and (b) at the end of their period of detainment. - (Holding answer 18 March 2004).

Answer: Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the numeracy and literacy levels of juvenile offenders detained in local authority secure units (a) at the start and (b) at the end of their period of detainment. [162378] Paul Goggins :[holding answer 18 March 2004]: The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales commissions and purchases accommodation for juvenile offenders, including some places in local authority children's homes. A YJB audit in those establishments in 2001 found that when they entered custody over half averaged six years behind the normal literacy of their age group and over a third were 10 years behind on numeracy. The YJB is currently collecting information on the educational attainments of young people while in those establishments. This will be published in the board's next Annual Statistical Bulletin, due in the autumn.

Secondary information