To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the length of time in each day for which remand prisoners in young offender institutions remain locked in their cells. [67045]
The Government are investing substantial funds to develop more effective regimes in Prison Service establishments. They are determined to pursue active regimes in establishments holding young people as part of their commitment to focus the youth justice system on the prevention of offending by young people. The Prison Service is currently working on new regime standards and the creation of a distinct estate for boys aged 15 to 17 in consultation with the Youth Justice Board. These measures will better meet the needs of the young people and provide a more purposeful and active day. An assessment is also underway of the needs of girls under 18 years old.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of time prisoners on remand in young offender institutions spent in custody awaiting disposal of their case in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [67044]
The available information for all untried and convicted unsentenced young persons held in prisons in England and Wales is given in the table.
| Estimated average time spent in custody for untried and convicted unsentenced young persons in prisons in England and Wales, 1994–98 1 | ||||
| Estimated average number of days in custody 1 | ||||
| Untried2 | Convicted unsentenced3 | |||
| Year | Males | Females | Males | Females |
| 1994 | 46 | 31 | 30 | 26 |
| 1995 | 42 | 32 | 34 | 29 |
| 1996 | 42 | 32 | 31 | 29 |
| 1997 | 41 | 37 | 28 | 25 |
| 19984 | 36 | 24 | 37 | 25 |
| 1 Estimated from number of receptions and average population | ||||
| 2 Time spent in Prison Service establishments before conviction | ||||
| 3 Time spent in Prison Service establishments after conviction | ||||
| 4 Provisional figures | ||||