56.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hostels, used for the purpose of accommodating boys or girls on remand, are now in use; how many are under construction; when he expects to have sufficient to meet current needs; and, as these are one of the methods in use to combat crime and to train young people, if he will give priority to the provision of these hostels.
Remand homes are primarily places for the temporary custody and observation of persons under 17 years of age pending an appearance before a court. There are at present fifty-one such homes. One new home is to be opened shortly. Several local authorities are considering the provision of further new homes and plans are in hand or under examination for the extension or replacement by larger establishments of eleven existing homes. These measures include emergency arrange- ments to adapt existing buildings for use as remand homes. They are being pressed forward urgently in conjunction with the responsible local authorities.