PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
JOSEPH SCHOLES (19 June 2006)

That this House recalls that on 24th March 2002, a deeply disturbed child, 16 year-old Joseph Scholes, hanged himself in Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution, nine days into a two year custodial sentence; regrets that while Joseph's vulnerability was recognised, his allocation to Prison Service accommodation failed to meet the standard of care he required; notes that since 1990 29 children have died in penal custody, that the number of children sent to prison has doubled in the last 10 years, that more younger children are receiving custodial sentences and that concern has been expressed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and by the Joint Committee on Human Rights; further notes that, following Joseph Scholes' inquest, the Coroner exercised his duty to prevent the recurrence of fatalities by making a report to the Home Secretary advocating a public inquiry; is alarmed to learn that, since Joseph's death, another five children have died in similar circumstances; further notes that Joseph's mother, Yvonne Scholes has, with the assistance of INQUEST and NACRO, won the support of key penal and children's rights groups, as well as Members of both Houses, backing her call for an inquiry; and urges the Government to establish a full public inquiry to address the issues arising from the death of Joseph Scholes so that lessons can be learnt about the treatment of children throughout the criminal justice system.

Sponsored by:
Chris Ruane (Labour)