asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will take steps to ensure that uniform records are kept of the use of restraint, including the age, gender and ethnicity of each subject, at young offender institutions, secure training centres and secure children's homes. [HL2155]

The Youth Justice Board has been working with secure accommodation providers to develop common standards for recording and reporting restraint information. It has issued new counting rules and guidance to improve the comparability of data. The revised data collection framework will include a breakdown by sex and ethnicity. Age has not been identified as a factor influencing the use of restraint. The Youth Justice Board plans to collect data under the new rules from April 2007.