asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the provision of secure accommodation for young offenders, with particular reference to the provision of remand centres.

For borstals and detention centres I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 43 and 44 of the white paper on The War against Crime (Cmnd. 2296). There are three secure units in remand homes and three are being established in approved schools. Eight remand centres are under construction; all should be occupied in the next 12 months.

Is my hon. Friend aware that four years ago the House was promised nine remand centres? Is she satisfied with the progress that has been made in the provision of these centres?

We are never satisfied, because we always want to go faster, but the Winchester centre will probably be opened next month with 40 places, Cardiff and Exeter about September with a further 40 places, and Leeds in October with 100 places. By the end of 12 months there should be 655 remand places in addition to the 300 at Ashford at present.

Is the hon. Lady aware that the present Foreign Secretary, then the Home Secretary, said over three years ago that seven new remand centres were about to be opened? Why has it taken such a long time to get them opened? We have had only one opened in those three years.

I am sure that the hon. Lady knows of the difficulties in planning and opening these remand centres. We have got them going and in the next 12 months we shall have a very satisfactory record.